Department for Transport

Driving under Influence

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will reduce the drink-drive limit to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

Jesse Norman: The Government has no current plans to lower the drink drive limit but is monitoring the position in Scotland. The Government considers rigorous enforcement and serious penalties for drink drivers to be effective deterrents.

Motor Vehicles: CCTV

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on motorists operating CCTV from their vehicles.

Jesse Norman: It is a legal requirement for drivers to exercise proper control of their vehicle and to ensure that their vision is not obscured. The Official Highway Code advises drivers to avoid distractions. Local licensing authorities can already require the installation of CCTV in all taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) and a number already do so.

Railways: North West

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the funding allocated to the UK railway network between 2014 and 2019 (a) has been and (b) is planned to be spent in (i) Lancashire and (ii) the North West.

Joseph Johnson: a)  Historical spending Figures on public sector expenditure at a regional level are part of the Government’s Country and Regional Analysis (CRA) statistics. These provide statistical allocations of public spending according to where the benefits of that spend are accrued. The statistics include spend on transport by all public sector organisations including the Department for Transport, Local Authorities, Public Corporations (in the case of transport, this is mainly spend by London Underground) and other Government Departments including devolved administrations. This information is available for regions (formerly government office regions) only, and therefore is unavailable for Lancashire. The most recent statistics up to 2016/17 are presented in the table below. These show total public expenditure on national railways for the North West, and reflect the levels of both ‘capital’ and ‘current’ (resource) expenditure. Total annual public sector expenditure on railways (£millions, nominal)  2013/142014/152015/1612016/17North West8937581,4761,262Total expenditure8,9929,13414,52915,681North West as % of total expenditure10%8%10%8% 1Due to the reclassification of Network Rail into the public sector from 2015/16, care should be taken when making historical comparisons. b)  Future spending Recent analysis published by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority shows that over the period 2017/18 to 2020/21, the North West will receive £1,353 of central government transport capital expenditure per head of population, the most of all English regions. This publication covers all transport modes, and does not disaggregate further by individual modes. It does not include ‘current’ expenditure or spend by Local Authorities or Public Corporations.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-infrastructure-and-construction-pipeline-2017 (page 45).

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ensuring that vehicle tax for company cars supports the Road to Zero Strategy.

Jesse Norman: Ministers hold regular discussions with their counterparts in HM Treasury on a range of transport issues. Policy on taxation is a matter for the Treasury. To achieve the ambitions set out in the Road to Zero strategy, Government is investing nearly £1.5 billion between April 2015 and March 2021, with grants available for plug-in vehicles and schemes to support chargepoint infrastructure. This is one of the most comprehensive support packages in the world for zero emission vehicles.

Lichfield Trent Valley Station

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans for work to commence construction to start on the two lifts designed to enable disabled access to all platforms at Lichfield Trent Valley railway station.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Work is due to start on site at the end of November with construction lasting until the end of Spring. The project will deliver new lifts at platform level at Lichfield Trent Valley to link the West Coast Main Line platforms (platforms 1 and 2) to the Cross City Line platform (platform 3) and provide an accessible route to and between all platforms.

Govia Thameslink Railway:  Compensation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will amend the GTR additional industry compensation scheme established following the timetable failure in May 2018 so that anyone whose shortest journey involves changing at a Level 1 station is compensated on a Level 1 basis; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: The Department encourages all passengers who experience a delay in their journey to apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme. This entitles holders of any ticket type – including passengers who travel less frequently– to claim compensation for delays of 15 minutes or more, whatever the cause of the delay. Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) does not have any plans to amend the additional compensation scheme that was announced on 28 August 2018 for passengers who change trains at a Level 1 station.

Merchant Shipping: Qualifications

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Department for Exiting the European Union on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certification issued in the (a) UK and (b) EU after 29 March 2019.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: My colleagues and I have regular discussions with other Departments, including the Department for Exiting the European Union, on issues related to the UK’s exit from the European Union, including the recognition of seafarers certificates.

Merchant Shipping: Minimum Wage

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the implementation of the recommendations of the legal working group on seafarers and the national minimum wage.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: I held a meeting with my previous BEIS counterpart and intend to meet with the new Minister shortly. Officials in the Department for Transport are regularly liaising with BEIS officials to ensure smooth progression of this policy.

Shipping: Fuels

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department provides to shipping companies on compliance with the cap on the sulphur content of marine fuel due to enter into force on 1 January 2020.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Government supports the 0.5% sulphur cap on marine fuel which comes into force globally on 1 January 2020. Existing UK guidance for shipowners on the issue is published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in MSN 1819 and MGN 381. These will be updated to reflect the changes to the global sulphur cap following completion of work by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the issue, and in advance of the implementation date. The UK is actively involved with other States and industry at the IMO, in efforts to support the implementation by shipping companies and fuel suppliers. This work has been progressing well, and will be further advanced at the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee which is meeting later this month. This meeting will consider a range of measures to support implementation including ‘ship operator implementation plans’ with further work planned at the IMO Pollution Prevention Response Subcommittee in February 2019 to address cases of non-compliant fuel. Additionally, the UK has been active within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in supporting the development of guidance for shipowners. The existing standard for marine fuels (ISO 8217:2017) will continue to apply, but additional guidance will be available for companies ordering and handling these fuels from mid-2019.

Aviation: Sign Language

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether assistive technology for users of British Sign Language is planned to be part of the aviation strategy.

Jesse Norman: The Government has put passengers at the centre of the development of the Aviation Strategy. The Government recognises that it is important for the needs of all passengers, including those with less obvious disabilities such as hearing loss, to be addressed by airlines. Assistance for passengers with this and other hidden disabilities will be considered as part of the work on the strategy.

Public Transport: Disability

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her department is taking to ensure that the cost of public transport is affordable for people with disabilities who require assistance when travelling.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: This Government is determined to make sure that disabled people have the same access to transport as everyone else, and that they are able to travel easily, confidently, and without extra cost. In 2017/18 the Government provided around £1 billion of funding to enable local authorities in England to provide statutory and discretionary concessions for 9.8 million disabled and older travel pass holders. The Government has committed to maintaining this concession. Concessionary bus travel is a devolved policy area so the legislative and administrative arrangements differ throughout the UK, and local authorities are also able to offer additional concessions, such as companion passes for disabled people who require assistance to travel. The Disabled Persons Railcard allows disabled people to get one third off their rail fares. The Government made a commitment in the Inclusive Transport Strategy that it would work with the Rail Delivery Group and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee to review the eligibility criteria for it. In 2019, the Department will launch a major public awareness campaign, which, among other things, will seek to increase awareness and take up of these and other forms of assistance for disabled passengers.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Personal Records

Stephen Metcalfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what powers he has to direct the DVLA to withhold driver information from parking operators that use unfair and opaque practices.

Jesse Norman: The DVLA provides vehicle keeper information to private parking management companies only where they are members of an appropriate accredited trade association. This requirement seeks to ensure they are legitimate companies that operate within published codes of practice which promote fair treatment of the motorist. The release of this information is provided for in law and the arrangements are subject to robust safeguards to ensure that data is provided only to those with a legitimate need to request it. The DVLA carries out its own comprehensive auditing, involving both remote and on-site audits in conjunction with the Government Internal Audit Agency. Where issues arise, action will be taken to ensure the matter is rectified, including, where appropriate, access to the information being withheld.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Electricity: Storage

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 13 September to Question 168987 on Electricity: Storage, when Ofgem plans to respond to the consultation on Clarifying the regulatory framework for electricity storage: Licensing which closed in November 2017.

Claire Perry: In the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan, published by the Government and Ofgem in July 2017, Ofgem committed to modify the generation licence to include electricity storage facilities. Ofgem has consulted on this and will respond shortly. In the meantime, storage operators can continue to apply to Ofgem for the existing generation licence.We published a progress update to the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan on the 16th October 2018.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the levelised cost of energy of new offshore wind projects.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the levelised cost of energy of new solar projects.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the levelised cost of energy of new tidal projects.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the levelised cost of energy of new hydro projects.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the levelised cost of energy of new biomass projects.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the levelised cost of energy of new geothermal projects.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the levelised cost of energy of new gas projects.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the levelised cost of energy of new nuclear projects.

Claire Perry: BEIS’s most recent published assessment of electricity generation costs can be found in the generation costs report (2016)[1] which covers both renewable and non-renewable technologies. This report is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beis-electricity-generation-costs-november-2016 We are currently undertaking a review of our evidence on levelised costs of electricity generation. [1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/566567/BEIS_Electricity_Generation_Cost_Report.pdf

Energy: Housing

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many homes in the UK are in Energy Performance Band E or lower.

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many homes in the UK are in Energy Performance Band D or higher.

Claire Perry: Latest figures for the number of homes (thousands) in Energy Performance Band D or higher and Band E or lower for England and the Devolved Nations.  England (2016)Scotland (2016)Northern Ireland (2016)Wales (2008)Band D or higher (thousands)18,2902,031643558Band E or lower (thousands)4,70742299711Total number of homes (thousands)22,9962,4527421,268Figures may not sum to totals due to rounding Please note, these figures should not be summed to give a UK total, or compared between nations due to the following differences:(1) The latest data available for Wales is from 2008, 2016 data will be published in November 2018.(2) Figures for Wales relate to number of dwellings (which includes vacant properties) whereas figures for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland relate to number of households (excluding vacant properties).(3) Each nation uses a different methodology for calculating Energy Performance. The main difference being Welsh figures are based on SAP 2005, whereas figures for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are based on SAP 2012. Data sourcesMHCLG. (2016). English Housing Survey.Scottish Government. (2016). Scottish House Condition Survey.Housing Executive. (2016). Northern Ireland House Condition Survey.Welsh Government. (2008). Living in Wales Survey.

Public Sector: Electrical Engineering

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that public sector projects are resourced with adequately qualified electrical workers.

Richard Harrington: The Department endorses the industry developed and managed Construction Skills Certification Scheme and the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme. These industry-wide schemes aim to ensure all construction clients and consumers can have confidence that those undertaking electrical work have the relevant training and qualifications to perform the work required.

Industry: Economic Growth

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility of 11 September 2018, Official Report, column 302WH, what progress his Department has made on assessing the potential merits of establishing an expanded and mission-oriented industrial strategy focused on achieving investment-led growth, with the aims of (a) diversifying the UK's industrial base, (b) driving up exports, (c) raising productivity and (d) addressing regional imbalances.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government’s ambitious, modern Industrial Strategy sets out a long-term plan to boost the productivity and earning power of people throughout the UK. The Industrial Strategy sets out four Grand Challenges to put the UK at the forefront of the industries of the future. As part of our approach we have developed four ambitious missions to tackle these Grand Challenges bringing government, businesses and organisations across the country together to make a real difference to people’s lives.They are:Future of Mobility: Put the UK at the forefront of the design and manufacturing of zero emission vehicles, with all new cars and vans effectively zero emission by 2040Clean Growth: At least halve the energy use of new buildings by 2030Ageing Society: Ensure that people can enjoy at least 5 extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035, while narrowing the gap between the experience of the richest and poorestAI & Data: Use data, Artificial Intelligence and innovation to transform the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases by 2030 The Industrial Strategy’s Grand Challenges and mission-based approach are underpinned by the five foundations of productivity: Ideas, People, Infrastructure, Business Environment and Places. These foundations include an ambitious Export Strategy and supporting local areas to develop Local Industrial Strategies and strengthen local economics. By building strong foundations, we will create the best environment for the missions to succeed and deliver opportunities for new, world-leading industries across the UK.

Self-employed

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support the self-employed in (a) Kent, (b) Medway and (c) England.

Kelly Tolhurst: Our Industrial Strategy sets out our long-term plan to support entrepreneurs starting and growing a business. The Kent and Medway Growth Hub provides a range of support for people looking to start and grow their business. Through the 38 local Growth Hubs, self-employed business people can access tailored advice and support - including learning about improving business planning, accounting, marketing and procurement. For example, Medway Council fund a free three-day workshop that provides people with the key things you need to know about starting their own business.  Access to finance is also important. Since March 2012, the Start Up Loans Company, part of the Government-owned British Business Bank, has provided over 1,000 loans worth just under £7 million to start-up businesses in Kent and over £800,000 to businesses in Medway. Government are supporting the self employed more broadly, such as self-employed mothers who qualify for Maternity Allowance are also now able to share parental leave and pay with an employed father or partner. In addition, the Government has increased the personal allowance from £11,500 to £11,850 (benefiting employed and self-employed taxpayers) and self-employed people are now able to build their entitlement to the new State Pension at the same rate as employed people.

Industry: Carbon Emissions

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 13 September 2018 to Question 170860, whether she has requested an assessment of the effect on the extractive industries of reductions in emissions targets as part of his Department's advice to the Committee on Climate Change.

Claire Perry: In our commission for advice on the implications of the Paris Agreement for the UK’s long-term targets, we have asked the Committee on Climate Change to provide evidence on how further reductions in our emissions might be delivered across all sectors of the economy. We will consider the CCC’s advice carefully when it is received.

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason the Government receives funding from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme while recipients have been advised of a deficit resulting in a reduced bonus.

Claire Perry: The Government guarantees any deficit from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme and in return receives a share of any surplus. Following the most recent valuation in July, a significant surplus in the scheme will ensure that scheme members will receive an additional bonus pension for each of the next six years.

Occupational Pensions

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for how many pension schemes the Government acts as a guarantor using a similar structure to that of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme.

Claire Perry: The Government acts as Guarantor for two schemes for former railworkers, the Railways Pension Scheme - 1994 Pensioners Section and the British Rail Superannuation Fund (BRSF). These schemes each have arrangements for sharing surpluses but the mechanisms are different to those in the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.

Occupational Pensions

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, from how many pension schemes the Government receives a guarantor dividend excluding the Mineworkers Pension Scheme.

Claire Perry: The Government acts as Guarantor for two schemes for former railworkers, the Railways Pension Scheme - 1994 Pensioners Section and the British Rail Superannuation Fund (BRSF). These schemes each have arrangements for sharing surpluses but have not provided payments to the Guarantor.

Civil Nuclear Constabulary: Cumbria

Martin Whitfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Civil Nuclear Constabulary's new training facility in West Cumbria will be completed.

Richard Harrington: I was delighted to be able to visit the Griffin Park Tactical Training Facility in April this year. As I saw, this is a world class facility which will ensure that the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) are able to continue to effectively deliver their mission of protecting civil nuclear sites and materials. The CNC are planning to take full occupancy of the building in early 2019, and to commence firearms training there in spring.

Gratuities

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October to Question 176550 on Gratuities, whether the Government plans to publish (a) a response to the consultation on tips, gratuities, cover and service charges which closed on 27 June 2016 and (b) a draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October to Question 176550 on Gratuities, whether he plans to legislate to ban employers from making any deductions from tips through tronc systems; and what the planned territorial extent of the primary legislation referenced in that Answer is.

Kelly Tolhurst: On 1 October 2018, the Government announced its intention to legislate to ensure employers do not retain tips.The 2016 consultation on tips, gratuities cover and service charges gave clear support for Government action on this issue. We will publish full details of this legislation and a response to the consultation in due course.The measure proposed extends to England, Wales and Scotland. Employment rights are devolved to Northern Ireland.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Iran: Terrorism

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the validity of reports that Iran is using its embassies in Europe as cover for terrorist activity.

Alistair Burt: We are clear that the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations requires that the premises of a diplomatic mission are not used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as described in the Convention or by other rules of general international law. We are aware that France has frozen the assets of an Iranian individual who is reported to have been accredited to a diplomatic mission in Europe and arrested in connection with an alleged attack plot.

USA: Intelligence Services

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has undertaken a review of intelligence cooperation with the United States as a result of the appointment of Gina Haspel as the Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency.

Sir Alan Duncan: It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments not to comment on intelligence matters. The UK-US relationship is grounded in our history and shared traditions. In both countries, intelligence work takes place within a strong legal framework.

USA: Intelligence Services

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has undertaken a review of Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments in relation to intelligence sharing with the US as a result of the appointment of Gina Haspel to Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Sir Alan Duncan: The revised Overseas Security and Justice Assistance guidance was published in January 2017. It is the longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters. The UK-US relationship is grounded in our history and shared traditions. In both countries, intelligence work takes place within a strong legal framework.

UN General Assembly

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total cost including staff hours was of producing the film on the UK's contributions to the UN General Assembly published by his Department on 28 September 2018.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total cost including staff hours was of producing the film on the role of the Commonwealth published by his Department on 27 September 2018 in advance of the UN General Assembly.

Sir Alan Duncan: Video clips were produced in-house by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) digital communication team in London. They were published on corporate FCO social media channels and made available to the FCO's global network of Posts overseas for publication on local social media channels. To maximise the lifetime value of content, footage collected is archived and re-used. With the repeated reuse of archive, it is difficult to provide a precise figure for the costs of footage used in a specific video.

UN General Assembly: Burma

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total cost including staff hours was of producing the film on the persecution of minorities in Myanmar published by his Department on 27 September 2018 in advance of the UN General Assembly's discussions on that issue.

Sir Alan Duncan: Video on corporate Foreign Office social media channels and made available to the FCO's global network of Posts overseas for publication on local social media channels. Most of the footage used was filmed by FCO staff or a hired video producer at Post, or supplied by partner organisations such as DFID, the Red Cross or the United Nations at no cost. To maximise the lifetime value of content, footage collected is archived and re-used. With the repeated reuse of archive, it is difficult to provide a precise figure for the costs of footage used in a specific video.

UN General Assembly: Somalia

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total cost including staff hours was of producing the film on Somalia published by his Department on 27 September 2018 in advance of the UN General Assembly's discussions on that issue.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total cost including staff hours was of producing the film on Yemen published by his Department on 27 September 2018 in advance of the UN General Assembly's discussions on that issue.

Sir Alan Duncan: Video clips were produced in-house by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) digital communication team in London. They were published on corporate FCO social media channels and made available to the FCO's global network of Posts overseas for publication on local social media channels. Most of the footage used was filmed by FCO staff or a hired video producer at Post, or supplied by partner organisations such as Department for International Development, the Red Cross or the United Nations at no cost. To maximise the lifetime value of content, footage collected is archived and re-used. With the repeated reuse of archive, it is difficult to provide a precise figure for the costs of footage used in a specific video.

Ezzat Ghoneim

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Egyptian counterparts on the disappearance of Ezzat Ghoneim, head of the independent Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms.

Alistair Burt: ​We remain deeply concerned about allegations of enforced disappearance, torture and mistreatment in detention in Egypt. Ministers and officials continue to raise these issues with the Egyptian authorities in Cairo and London, including concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression. The Prime Minister and I have both raised the importance of protecting democratic space. I did this most recently last week during my visit to Egypt.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Fisheries

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to ensure that fishing rights in the Chagos Archipelago remain available to Mauritius in so far as those rights relate to the territorial sea under the terms of the 18 March 2015 Arbitration Award between the Republic of Mauritius and the UK under Annex VII of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK is committed to implementing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Arbitral Tribunal Award. Since this ruling, senior officials from the UK and Mauritius have met on three occasions to discuss implementing the Award. In line with the Award, the UK will continue to work with Mauritius to agree the best way to meet our obligation to ensure fishing rights in the territorial sea remain available to Mauritius, so far as practicable. The Arbitral Award did not require the termination of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) but the UK will continue to approach discussions with an open mind about the best way to ensure proper conservation management of this unique marine environment.

Hayat Belkacem

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Moroccan counterpart on the shooting of the immigrant Hayat Belkacem on 25 September.

Alistair Burt: ​We are aware of Hayat Belkacem's death. However, we frequently discuss migration-related issues with the Moroccans, most recently at a briefing hosted by the Moroccan Foreign Minister last week. Through our development programmes we are also supporting Moroccan efforts to address the root causes of migration. The UK remains committed to a comprehensive, "whole-of-route" approach, involving targeted interventions at each stage of a migrant's journey. This is the most effective long-term solution to unmanaged, irregular migration. We will play an active role in the Global Compact meetings in Marrakech in December as we work with the international community on this issue.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Northern Ireland

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many and which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have visited the Irish border in the last 12 months; when those visits took place; and how long they spent at the border in each of those visits.

Sir Alan Duncan: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials from London and Dublin, including the British Ambassador to Ireland and members of the British Embassy, travel regularly to the border area, as they do throughout Ireland.

Bahrain: Prisons

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the prison conditions experienced in Bahrain.

Alistair Burt: The British Government monitors events in Bahrain closely. Where we have concerns on specific issues, including prison conditions, we raise these with the Bahraini authorities. We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the relevant human rights oversight bodies.

Hassan Mushaima

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Bahrainan counterpart on the case of the imprisonment of Mr. Hassan Mushiema in that country.

Alistair Burt: I refer the honourable lady to the answer I gave to question 174028 on 11 October and in my response to the Westminster Hall Debate of 11 September.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Embassy in Bahrain continue to monitor the case of Hassan Mushaima closely and should we have concerns we will raise them with the Government of Bahrain as we have already done.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Brexit

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with which EU countries the UK has discussed the potential extension of the Article 50 period.

Suella Braverman: The Government’s policy is that Article 50 will not be extended. We will be leaving the EU on 29 March 2019 and are negotiating to that timeline. We are confident of reaching a deal which is in the best interests of both the UK and the EU.

Au Pairs: EU Nationals

Mrs Kemi Badenoch: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on (a) au pairs and (b) families using au pairs from (i) the EU and (ii) EFTA countries.

Suella Braverman: The Prime Minister has been clear that safeguarding the rights of EU citizens and citizens of the EFTA states already living in the UK is a priority for negotiations, as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement.It will allow EU citizens living in the UK before the end of the implementation period to continue living their lives broadly as they do now. We are also in discussions with the EEA EFTA states (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland on agreements to protect the rights of UK nationals living in those countries and their nationals living in the UK.Au pairs from the EU arriving after the end of the implementation period will need to apply under the future immigration arrangements. The Home Office will set out further details about these arrangements in due course.

British Nationals Abroad and EU Nationals

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, when (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department, (c) officials in his Department and (d) other Government Ministers last met with representatives of (i) citizens of other EU member states living in the UK and (ii) UK citizens living in other EU member states to discuss their concerns over the UK leaving the EU; and when he next plans to meet representatives from these groups.

Suella Braverman: Ministers and officials from DExEU and other Government departments speak regularly to stakeholders from a variety of sectors, including organisations representing EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU, to understand their concerns and priorities regarding our EU exit.DExEU Ministers have spoken at a range of community outreach events involving diaspora EU communities in the UK and organisations that represent EU citizens. Most recently, on October 4th Minister Robin Walker met with UK citizens living in Spain.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have been holding events across Member States, engaging extensively with their UK national communities.The Home Office has established User Groups representing EU citizens to support the development of the EU Settlement Scheme, and is discussing the design of the scheme to grant status to EU citizens already resident in the UK with employers, suppliers and citizens.

British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps he is taking to provide clarity on the rights of UK citizens living in other EU member states in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Suella Braverman: Citizens’ rights has been our first priority since the very beginning of this process.While the Government is preparing for a range of scenarios, including the unlikely event that we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal, the Prime Minister stated to EU citizens on 21 September “I want to be clear with you that even in the event of no deal your rights will be protected. You are our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues. We want you to stay.”We are urging our EU counterparts to offer the same reassurance to UK nationals living in EU Member States. We also will ensure all relevant information is available to UK nationals overseas in the most transparent and accessible way.

British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps his Department is taking to seek to ensure that UK citizens living in the EU can continue to do so in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Suella Braverman: Citizens’ rights has been our first priority since the very beginning of this process.While the Government is preparing for a range of scenarios, including the unlikely event that we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal, the Prime Minister stated to EU citizens on 21 September “I want to be clear with you that even in the event of no deal your rights will be protected. You are our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues. We want you to stay.”We are urging our EU counterparts to offer the same reassurance to UK nationals living in EU Member States. We also will ensure all relevant information is available to UK nationals overseas in the most transparent and accessible way.

Research: EU Action

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate the Government has made of the extra cost the UK would incur to buy back into EU-UK wide science and research programmes.

Mr Robin Walker: Under the terms of the draft Withdrawal Agreement, UK entities' right to participate in EU science and research funding programmes during the current Multiannual Financial Framework period will be unaffected by the UK's withdrawal from the EU for the lifetime of projects financed by the current MFF. No further agreement would be needed for the UK to participate in these programmes in this period.The next generation of science and research programmes will begin in 2021. The Government’s proposals published in July 2018 set out that as part of an ambitious science and innovation accord the UK would like to explore association to future EU research funding programmes, including but not limited to Horizon Europe and Euratom R&T. Any such an association would necessarily involve an appropriate UK financial contribution. However, the terms of any such association would be a matter for the negotiations and the Government will negotiate on the basis of what is in the best interests of British citizens and the UK economy and scientific community.

European Union Withdrawal Agreement (Public Vote) Bill 2017-19

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill is planned to include the framework for the UK's future relationship with the EU.

Suella Braverman: No. The EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill will only implement the Withdrawal Agreement. However the Bill will only be introduced following Parliament’s approval of the final deal covering both the withdrawal arrangements and the framework for the future relationship.As the Prime Minister made clear in her Florence speech last year, the EU is not “legally able to conclude an agreement with the UK as an external partner while it is itself still part of the European Union”. Therefore, the Government will introduce further separate legislation where it is needed to implement the future relationship into UK law, ensuring Parliament is fully involved.

Manufacturing Industries: West Midlands

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect on car manufacturing in (a) Coventry and (b) the West Midlands of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Suella Braverman: The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations including for the automotive sector. I myself was pleased to visit the West Midlands and hear from local business representatives about Brexit.We do not want or expect a no deal scenario, however, as a responsible Government we are preparing plans for a range of outcomes. We have already carried out very significant ‘no deal’ preparations and as part of this planning the Government has published 106 technical notices to help businesses and citizens prepare for March 2019 in the unlikely event of a ‘no deal’ scenario. These include notices on vehicle type approval, trading with the EU and classifying your goods in the UK Trade Tariff, among others. These can be accessed on the gov.uk website.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Brexit

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he plans to publish his Department's preparations for no deal.

Suella Braverman: The Government has been clear on the outcome it wants to achieve, which is to secure a mutually advantageous deal with the EU. However, we have already carried out very significant ‘no deal’ preparations for the unlikely event that we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal. We have successfully passed critical legislation, signed international agreements, recruited additional staff and guaranteed certain EU funding in a ‘no deal’ scenario.We have already published a series of over 100 technical notices so that businesses and citizens have time to prepare in the event of a 'no deal' scenario. These are available on gov.uk in a centralised location that is easy for people to access and use.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Staff

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what change there has been in staffing levels in his Department since June 2016.

Suella Braverman: The Department continues to recruit the brightest and the best from across the civil service, the wider public sector and the private sector. The Department for Exiting the European Union was established in July 2016 and has now grown to over 650 staff.

EU Nationals

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if the Government will publish a technical paper on guidance to be issued to non-UK EU citizens residing in the UK in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Suella Braverman: We have been clear that securing the rights of citizens has always been our priority.The Government has made it clear that we will unilaterally protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK in the event of no deal. The Prime Minister said, “You are our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues. We want you to stay.”We will set out the details as soon as is practical, and we now urge the EU and all its member states to give UK nationals on the continent the same reassurances.

Department of Health and Social Care

Smoking

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of smoking cessation treatments (a) varenicline, (b) bupropion and (c) nicotine replacement therapies in each of the last three years.

Steve Brine: Information is only available centrally on the cost of smoking cessation medication that has been dispensed to National Health Service patients using the FP10 prescription form. There are various other routes in which such medication can be supplied to a patient from the NHS including from community pharmacies via voucher schemes and a direct supply to patients from a Patient Group Direction. The following table provides the Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) of smoking cessation medication where they have only been dispensed in the community via an FP10 form in England in the specified years.  All pharmacotherapiesNicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT)BupropionVareniclineNIC (£000)   2015/1633,21815,67281416,7322016/1728,48713,37683214,2792017/1826,01712,03888913,090Source: NHS Digital published Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England - April 2017 to March 2018 Notes:1. Prescriptions are written on a prescription form known as a FP10. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item.2. The NIC of all pharmacotherapies is the basic cost of the treatments and does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charge income3. All pharmacotherapies includes NRT, bupropion (including branded medicine Zyban) and varenicline (including branded medicine Champix)4. This information was obtained from the Prescribing Analysis and CosT (PACT) system, which covers prescriptions prescribed by general practitioners, nurses, pharmacists and others in England and dispensed in the community in the United Kingdom. Prescriptions written in England but dispensed outside England are included. Prescriptions written in hospitals /clinics that are dispensed in the community, prescriptions dispensed in hospitals, dental prescribing and private prescriptions are not included in PACT data.5. Financial figures presented do not take into account inflation and are presented in cash terms only.6. Prescribing data presented in statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services excludes data on drugs supplied direct to patients without prescriptions. Services such as Stop Smoking Services can supply NRT, either direct to patients or through vouchers redeemable at pharmacies. In addition, stop smoking prescription medications can be issued on behalf of these services by pharmacists through Patient Group Directions. These supplies are not recorded in national prescriptions datasets and are also excluded.

NHS England: Staff

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will introduce legislation for safe staffing levels in NHS England.

Caroline Dinenage: Patient safety remains a priority for the Department; however, we have no plans to bring forward new legislative proposals to ensure safe staffing levels are maintained in the National Health Service in England.

Visual Impairment

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support the provision of an adequate number of appropriately trained people as guides for the blind; and whether he has held discussions with the RNIB on the training of such guides.

Caroline Dinenage: Under the Care Act 2014, where an adult or carer appears to have care and support needs, the local authority must carry out an assessment, and meet any eligible needs. This includes those arising from sight impairment or blindness. The Department maintains the Certificate of Vision Impairment form, which is used by consultant ophthalmologists to certify an individual as sight impaired or severely sight impaired (blind). With permission, the form is shared with the patient’s local authority, who work with the person to assess what help and advice they need. The Department continues to support training and skills development for care workers, this year investing £12 million in the Workforce Development Fund for training to develop the social care workforce, and working with its delivery partner, Skills for Care, to provide a range of resources for providers to help attract, train and retain staff. The Department has not had any recent discussions with the Royal National Institute of Blind People regarding training people as guides for the blind.

Blood and Organs: Donors

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the level of organ and blood donation.

Matt Hancock: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for the collection, manufacturing and issuing of blood products to the NHS in England. NHSBT needs to collect more than 6,000 blood donations every day to treat patients in need across England. NHSBT undertake a range of activities to drive recruitment of around 200,000 new donors each year to off-set donors who can longer donate for reasons such as illness, travel or pregnancy. In addition, NHSBT has undertaken work to change its donor base to better reflect the needs of NHS patients. In particular, it is working to recruit a significant number of new blood donors from a black African or black Caribbean background. Initiatives to support this goal have included work with black Christian churches across England, to encourage more black donors to register, book an appointment and give blood. NHSBT continues to work with black Asian and minority ethnic charity partners, including the Islamic Unity Society and Sewaday to promote registration drives and publicise sessions. It has also carried out Know Your Type events in high population Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic areas where individuals can learn their blood type with a finger prick test and be encouraged to book an appointment to donate. NHSBT has continued this promotion in 2018 with the B Positive choir, which was created by NHSBT. The members include blood donors and blood recipients, people who have blood-related medical conditions such as sickle cell disease, their families, friends and people who work with blood. NHSBT is currently implementing the ‘Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020: A UK Strategy’ which was launched in 2013. The strategy aims to achieve world class performance in organ donation and transplantation. It was developed by NHSBT and the four United Kingdom Health Departments. The strategy set the agenda for increasing organ donation and transplantation rates to world class standards over the next few years. There is an urgent shortage of organs for people from all backgrounds. The problem is particularly acute for black, Asian and minority ethnic patients. These patients are over-represented on the waiting list. They are more likely to need an organ transplant than the rest of the population as they are more susceptible to illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension, which could result in organ failure. NHSBT is running a number of projects and engaging with stakeholders to address this issue. During Organ Donation Week 2018 NHSBT and the Department announced a community investment scheme to break down myths and barriers and increase support for organ donation among black, Asian and ethnic minority communities. Community and faith-based groups from across England and Wales were invited to apply for funding for projects to promote organ donation. An estimated £115,000 has been made available for projects in England in the first year of the scheme. Despite these efforts, there are over 5,000 people on a transplant waiting list in England. To address this challenge, in October 2017, the Prime Minister announced plans to increase organ donation by shifting the balance of presumption in favour of organ donation. The new system which is expected to start from 2020 is expected to save hundreds more lives.

Cancer: Screening

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason the tumour profiling test Oncotype DX has not been included in NHS England’s National Genomic Test Directory.

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the NHS commissioning pathway is for the tumour profiling test Oncotype DX which is used for certain breast cancer patients.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published diagnostics guidance in 2013 on the use of gene expression profiling and expanded immunohistochemistry tests for guiding adjuvant chemotherapy decisions in early breast cancer management, including Oncotype DX. NICE’s guidance recommends Oncotype DX subject to specific clinical criteria to help make decisions about chemotherapy after surgery in some people with oestrogen receptor positive (ER+), lymph node negative (LN−) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2−) early breast cancer. NHS England will be reflecting the 2013 NICE guidelines related to Oncotype DX in the National Genomic Test Directory for cancer. However it is important to note that the NICE guidance relating to this intervention is under review and once a decision has been made by NICE, this information will be considered as part of the regular review and update of the Test Directory.

Health Professions: Regulation

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish his Department's response to the consultation on the regulation of medical associate professions in the UK.

Stephen Barclay: The Government is committed to supporting the development of a modern health and care workforce as part of the continuing drive to provide safe, accessible and high quality care for patients and service users. A key part of this is ensuring that proportionate assurance processes are in place for both existing and new roles. As my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced on the Department’s Talk Health and Care online platform on Friday 12 October, we will be introducing statutory regulation for physician associates and physicians’ assistants (anesthesia). In taking this forward, we will look to develop a framework to which other Medical Associate Professions could be added at a later date as the case arises. The Department will be publishing its full response to the consultation shortly.

General Practitioners: Bexley

Sir David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many practising GPs there were in (a)  Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) Bexley Borough in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: The data requested is available in the table below. Figures are not available for Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency or Bexley Borough, therefore figures for NHS Bexley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are provided.CensusCCGHeadcount all Practitioners (excluding Retainers, Registrars and Locums)2013NHS Bexley CCG1142014NHS Bexley CCG114   2015NHS Bexley CCG1192016NHS Bexley CCG1122017NHS Bexley CCG1022018NHS Bexley CCG104Source: NHS Digital Notes:All figures provided are as at 30 September, except for 2018 where figures are as at 31 March.Prior to 2015, figures were sourced from National Health Application and Infrastructure Services general practitioner (GP) Payments (Exeter) System. From 2015 figures were sourced from the workforce Minimum Dataset and include estimates for missing data.Locum Data was not collected prior to 2015, so 'All Practitioners (excluding Retainers, Registrars and Locums)' figures have been included to allow for comparisons over the full time series.Figures contain estimates for practices that did not provide fully valid GP data.

Continuing Care: Bexley

Sir David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are in receipt of NHS continuing healthcare in (a) the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) Bexley Borough.

Caroline Dinenage: Eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare is recorded by National Health Service clinical commissioning group. In NHS Bexley Clinical Commissioning Group in the first quarter of 2018/19, 224 individuals were eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare.

Health Services: Fees and Charges

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were mistakenly charged for NHS treatment due to errors in the interpretation of their immigration status in (a) England and (b) London in (i) 2016-17 and (ii) 2017-18.

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of women who gave birth at an NHS hospital and were charged for that treatment because of a misunderstanding of their immigration status in (a) England and (b) London in (i) 2016-2017 and (ii) 2017-2018.

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of EU citizens who were mistakenly charged for NHS treatment in (a) England and (b) London in (i) 2016-2017 and (ii) 2017-2018.

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of EU citizens who gave birth in an NHS hospital and were mistakenly charged for treatment in (a) England and (b) London in (i) 2016-2017 and (ii) 2017-2018.

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of charging for secondary NHS maternity care on the number of migrant women giving birth in NHS hospitals.

Stephen Barclay: The Department does not hold data on the number of people who were mistakenly charged for National Health Service treatment or the numbers of migrant women giving birth in NHS hospitals.

Hospitals: Waste Disposal

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) human and (b) clinical waste from hospitals is properly disposed of.

Stephen Barclay: The Department has worked with NHS Improvement and NHS England to put in place a new contract for National Health Service trusts so that all clinical waste is removed from sites and disposed of safely.

Cancer: Children and Young People

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has assessed the potential merits of introducing a new fund to support travel costs for children and young people undergoing cancer treatment.

Steve Brine: There is work underway to review the service specifications for children and young people with cancer. This will provide an opportunity to consider how some aspects of the patient pathway may be provided more locally to reduce the travel burden for patients and their families. Currently the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme which is part of the NHS Low Income Scheme allows for patients (and in certain circumstances their carers) to receive reimbursement of travel if they are in receipt of a qualifying benefit or on a low income. The NHS Low Income Scheme has helped 337,000 applicants to receive financial help with their National Health Service treatment.

Medical Examiners

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason medical examiners have been placed in NHS Trusts rather than in local authorities, as recommended by the Shipman Report.

Caroline Dinenage: The response to the Government’s consultation on the introduction of medical examiner and death certification reform in England and Wales, demonstrated widespread support for the aims of the reforms and for the introduction of medical examiners, but there were concerns about some aspects of the proposals. In particular, concerns were raised about how the proposed model, based in local authorities, would work in practice and about the timeframes for implementing the system. Since the Government consulted on the package of Death Certification Reforms, events have moved on. New information about how a medical examiner system could be introduced has been generated by the Department medical examiner pilot sites, early adopters of the medical examiner system, as well as from the Learning from Deaths initiative. Reflecting these developments, the response to consultation published in June 2018 announced a revised approach, with medical examiners employed in the National Health Service system, with a separate professional line of accountability, allowing for access to information in the sensitive and urgent timescales surrounding death registration but with independence necessary for the credibility of the scrutiny process. The new system will be rolled out from April 2019.

General Practitioners: ICT

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to guarantee the safety of online GP services.

Steve Brine: Online general practitioner services providing treatment for a disease, disorder or injury under supervision of a medical practitioner registered with the General Medical Council, and which are based in England or have a base of operations in England, are required to register with the Care Quality Commission and meet the requirements of Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, including provisions for safe care and treatment.

Hospitals: Television

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the amount charged by private companies to patients in NHS hospitals to watch TV in each of the last five years; and if he will place restrictions on the amount which patients can be charged for TV services while in hospital.

Stephen Barclay: The Department has not estimated the average charge to patients to access personal television services in hospitals. Service providers set their own charges. The Department is not party to the contracts which exist between the service providers and the individual National Health Service trusts. If patients do not wish to or are unable to afford the cost of the bedside television they should still be able to watch the free to view television in the hospital day room or communal areas.

Postnatal Care

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) the six-week maternal postnatal check is excluded from Maternity Medical Services under the General Medical Services contract and (b) GPs are not mandated or funded to provide that check.

Steve Brine: The six-week maternal postnatal check is not currently included in the General Medical Services contract as something which general practitioners (GPs) are required, or funded, to provide. However, we have asked for this issue to be considered in the contract negotiations for 2019/20, as any changes to the contracting arrangements, and associated reimbursement need to be negotiated and agreed, as part of the annual contract negotiations. While there is no specific requirement for GP practices to provide the six-week maternal postnatal check, GPs are still required to provide the usual services, set out in their contract, to that patient should the need arise.

Health Services

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans Public Health England has to use its Fingertips tool to provide local areas with data on (a) the estimated incidence of speech, language and communication needs in their local population and (b) the known prevalence of speech, language and communication needs.

Caroline Dinenage: By early 2019 Public Health England (PHE) will add data about child development outcomes at two to two and a half years, including the percentage reaching expected levels of communication skills, to the child health section of Fingertips. PHE will also add data from the early years foundation stage profile about the percentage of children at five years reaching expected levels in communication and language skills to Fingertips. PHE will include estimates of prevalence of speech, language and communication needs in children as part of a needs assessment report for each local authority and clinical commissioning group, to be published on Fingertips in early 2019. Overarching indicators from the early years foundation stage profile on school readiness are on Fingertips and available to view at the following link: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/school%20readiness#page/0/gid/1/pat/15/par/E92000001/ati/6/are/E12000002

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS Providers on (a) replacing did not attend with was not brought when children and young people miss appointments and (b) ensuring that when a child or young person is not brought to an appointment both the referrer and the family are notified and there is a process for following-up.

Stephen Barclay: This is a matter for the local National Health Service. Each health organisation should have information sharing protocols in place for when a child or young person misses or does not attend a planned appointment. This information should be held as part of the child’s record and communicated directly to the child’s registered general practice and targeted health services, such as health visiting, school nursing or child and adolescent mental health services. There are mechanisms available within health services to flag such issues. This may depend on the individual case and the significance of the appointment due to be attended, for example, a child not attending for chemotherapy or dialysis may be deemed to be at significant risk.

Mental Health: Schools

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure that the training for the proposed Designated Senior Leads for Mental Health in schools includes information on the link between speech, language and communication needs and mental health, and how to recognise and respond appropriately to speech, language and communication needs.

Matt Hancock: We are working closely with the Department of Education to deliver the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Green Paper proposals, which includes proposals for the Designated Senior Leads. The responsibility for the content of the training for the Designated Senior Leads sits with the Department of Education.

Mental Health Services: Prisoners

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the provision of mental health services available to prisoners.

Matt Hancock: Improving the physical and mental health of people in prison is a top priority for this Government. It is recognised that there are large numbers of people in prison with mental ill health, and it is essential that they are treated in the most appropriate environment for their needs. When people do go to prison, they should receive the same standard and access to National Health Service healthcare treatments and care as people in the community. Since April 2013, NHS England has commissioned health services for prisoners in England. Public Health England guidance supports NHS England commissioners and health care providers to undertake Health Needs Assessments which are a method for reviewing the health issues facing the prison population. The guidance advises that Health Needs Assessments are undertaken every three years, with an annual ‘refresh’. NHS England is working with partners in Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and Public Health England to improve and redesign services for people in prison with mental health needs. This includes revising approaches to secure hospital transfers under sections 48 and 49 of the Mental Health Act 1983 when a person needs to be in a hospital setting for their mental health. NHS England is reviewing the mental health service specification for prisons, in line with the commitment set out in the Next Steps for the Five Year Forward View. It is important to ensure that care started in prison can be continued on release into the community. Enabling offenders to access necessary treatment and support is vital to reduce reoffending. Progress has been made in this area and general practitioner (GP) practices are now required to pre-register prisoners prior to their release. This is further aided by work on the Health and Justice Information System. From 2019, NHS England will introduce the system to enable patient data to be shared with community services for the first time. This means that on release from prison, the patients up-to-date clinical record can be transferred to the GP with whom the person registers. This information sharing is key to ensuring continuity of care.

General Practitioners: Attendance

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost of missed GP appointments to the NHS in (a) Medway and (b) England in the most recent year for which data is available.

Steve Brine: Information on the number and cost of missed general practitioner (GP) appointments is not collected or held centrally. Costs associated with GP appointments are determined by a range of locally determined factors including appointment duration, the workforce requirement and the clinical complexity of each appointment. NHS England advises that Medway Clinical Commissioning Group is taking forward a number of initiatives to reduce missed GP appointments, including encouraging patients to sign-up to a text message service, and to make greater use of its Patient Online app and website; as well as working with practices to agree guidance on managing Do Not Attends.

Bereavement Counselling: Perinatal Mortality

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve bereavement care following baby loss.

Matt Hancock: All bereaved parents, following baby loss, should be offered the same high standard of care and support in an appropriate environment. That is why the Government recently announced over £100,000 of funding for Sands, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity, to continue the roll-out of the National Bereavement Care Pathway for 2018/19. This builds upon £50,000 of start-up funding and is in response to the great strides the project is making. Since 2010, Government has invested nearly £40 million in the National Health Service to improve birthing environments and this included better bereavement rooms and quiet area spaces at nearly 40 hospitals to support bereaved families.

Neuroblastoma

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to raise public awareness of neuroblastoma.

Steve Brine: Public Health England’s Be Clear on Cancer campaigns aim to help improve earlier diagnosis of cancer by raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of specific cancers and encouraging those with symptoms to see their doctor promptly. The decision on which cancers should be the focus of Be Clear on Cancer campaigns is informed by a steering group, whose members include primary and secondary care clinicians and key voluntary sector organisations. A number of factors are taken into account when deciding which campaigns to develop and run, with the main criteria being the scope to save lives through earlier diagnosis and whether the cancer has a clear and specific early sign or symptom that the general public can act upon should it arise. Be Clear on Cancer campaigns do not currently include neuroblastoma. There are currently no plans to include neuroblastoma, however decisions on which cancers to campaign on is under constant review by the steering group, informed by the available data and medical information resources.

Neuroblastoma

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of funding for neuroblastoma research.

Caroline Dinenage: Research is crucial in the fight against cancer. That is why the Department invests £1 billion per year in health research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).NIHR cancer research expenditure has risen from £101 million in 2010/11 to £137 million in 2016/17. This constitutes the largest investment in a disease area. The NIHR has spent approximately £5 million on neuroblastoma research covering the period 2011 - present. The following table provides an annual breakdown: 2011/122012/132013/142014/152015/162016/172017/18£342,769£424,732£643,040£890,394£942,990£1,264,231£523,260 In May the Government announced £40 million over the next five years for brain tumour research as part of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. Funding will be invested through the NIHR to support a wide range of research to support the translation of laboratory discoveries into treatments and better care for patients. We are relying on researchers to submit high-quality research proposals in this very difficult area. To encourage such applications we have released a NIHR Highlight Notice on brain tumour research asking research teams to submit collaborative applications building on recent initiatives and investments. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health. It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Cancer

Giles Watling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that the NHS cancer dashboard offers disaggregated data on (a) liver, (b) brain, (c) oesophageal, (d) pancreatic and (e) stomach cancer.

Steve Brine: Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England developed the first iteration of the cancer dashboard in response to recommendations in the Independent Cancer Taskforce report ‘Achieving world-class cancer outcomes: a strategy for England 2015-2020’. This includes data on breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers. Further cancer sites were not included because of the risk of making patients identifiable when viewing data for individual hospitals or clinical commissioning groups PHE is working with NHS England’s Cancer Strategy Team on the next phase of the dashboard development. The types of cancer to be included on the cancer dashboard will be informed by the needs of key stakeholders including cancer charities.

Patients: Safety

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patient safety incidents were recorded as absconder or missing patient by hospitals in England and Wales in the National Reporting and Learning System in each care setting in the latest period for which information is available.

Caroline Dinenage: During the period 1 October 2017 to 31 March 2018 National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) recorded 12,398 cases of “missing or absconded patient” across England and Wales. This category on the NRLS includes patients who left without signing a ‘discharge against medical advice’ form and those who failed to return from agreed leave on time, rather than solely reports of patients who absconded or were reported missing. A breakdown by care settings for both England and Wales is provided in the following table. Incidents reported as “Missing or absconded patient”, by care setting for England and WalesCare SettingEnglandWalesTotalAcute / general hospital5,7811465,927Ambulance service15015Community and general dental service101Community Nursing, medical and therapy service (incl. community hospital)31257369Community optometry / optician services000Community pharmacy000General practice404Learning disabilities service87289Mental health service5,7542395,993Total11,95444412,398

Mental Health Services: Children

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people under the age of 18 in (a) Lewisham Deptford constituency, (b) the London borough of Lewisham and (c) London who applied but did not meet the threshold for child and adolescent mental health services treatment in each of the last five years.

Matt Hancock: This information is not held centrally.

Maternity Services: Bereavement Counselling

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of NHS trusts in England that provided mandatory bereavement care training for maternity staff in each of the last five years.

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has taken steps to ensure that mandatory bereavement care training is provided for maternity staff in all NHS trusts; and if he will make a statement.

Matt Hancock: The Department has not made any estimate of the number of National Health Service trusts that provide mandatory bereavement care training for maternity staff in each of the last five years. It has also not taken steps to mandate bereavement care training for maternity staff in NHS trusts. Decisions about the provision of bereavement services are taken locally and it is for local NHS trusts to ensure that they provide appropriate training for maternity staff.

Fibromyalgia

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to place fibromyalgia in a distinct medical category of its own to facilitate research.

Steve Brine: Classification of diseases and disorders is achieved through international clinical and scientific consensus. The current version of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD10) includes fibromyalgia under ‘Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue’ in the category ‘Other soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified’. ICD-11, which will be presented at the World Health Assembly in May 2019 for adoption by member states, includes fibromyalgia under ‘General symptoms, signs or clinical findings’ in the category of ‘chronic widespread pain’. The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including fibromyalgia. It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions; applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. NIHR support for fibromyalgia research over the last five years includes £1.8 million funding for research projects and £0.6 million funding for clinical trials through the NIHR Clinical Research Network. The NIHR has also managed infrastructure supporting fibromyalgia research. Information on individual projects funded by the NIHR can be found at the following link: www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/

Cancer: Drugs

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps as part of the ongoing negotiations for the next Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme to ensure that increasing the number of combination treatments for cancer can be considered cost-effective and made available for patients.

Steve Brine: The Government is committed to supporting the United Kingdom life sciences industry and ensuring that patients can access cost-effective innovative cancer treatments and technologies at a price the National Health Service can afford. Discussions on a branded medicines voluntary agreement for 2019 onwards are ongoing and are constructive.

Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships: Pay

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the remuneration is for each of the 44 Chairs of the Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships.

Steve Brine: The information requested is held individually at sustainability and transformation partnership level, and not centrally by the Department or NHS England.

Dental Services: Mansfield

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase the capacity of NHS dentistry services in Mansfield constituency.

Steve Brine: Access to primary care dental services nationally remains high, in England 22.1 million adults were seen by dentist in the 24 month period ending 30 June 2018 and 6.9 million children were seen by a dentist in the 12 month period ending 30 June 2018. We are aware that there have been local recruitment difficulties in Mansfield which have resulted in some dental practices offering fewer appointments than usual. NHS England North Midlands advises it is working closely with providers to address these issues and ensure that access improves. NHS England is responsible for commissioning dental services. It has a legal duty to commission National Health Services dental services to meet the needs of the local population. NHS England should have arrangements in place to help patients who cannot find a local dentist that is accepting new patients.

Colorectal Cancer: Screening

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Prime Minister's remarks in her conference speech on 3 October 2018 on improving early diagnosis of cancer, if his Department will develop a fully funded plan to address NHS staff shortages in services that diagnose bowel cancer.

Steve Brine: Health Education England published its first ever Cancer Workforce Plan in December 2017, which commits to the expansion of capacity and skills including an ambition to increase improved working practices, attracting qualified people back to the National Health Service through domestic and international recruitment. This will include 200 additional clinical endoscopists (in addition to 200 already committed to), 316 more gastroenterologists and 94 full time equivalent additional histopathologists to support an increase in the capacity for earlier diagnosis.

Drugs: Prices

Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2018 to Question 163554 on Drugs: Prices; when his Department expects to consult with relevant stakeholders on its proposals for a new system of commissioning for special medicinal products.

Steve Brine: We expect to formally consult relevant stakeholders later this year.

NHS Trusts: Standards

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October to Question 174063 on NHS Trusts: Standards, what assessment his Department has made of the underlying causes of the increase in deficits of NHS trusts, and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Barclay: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS Trusts: Standards

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October to Question 174063 on NHS Trusts: Standards, what assessment his his Department has made of the accuracy NHS Improvement's view that the underlying deficit for NHS trusts at the end of 2017-18 is £4.3 billion.

Stephen Barclay: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Drugs

Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the consultation undertaken by NICE on charging for technology appraisal and highly specialised technology, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of responses were (i) supportive of and (ii) opposed to the proposals; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: The Government recently consulted on draft amendments to regulations that would enable the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to charge companies for the cost of developing technology appraisal and highly specialised technology evaluation recommendations relating to their products, as well as to allow NICE to recruit appeal panel members representing the National Health Service from the devolved administrations. 78 organisations and individuals responded to the consultation. The Government is currently analysing the responses and will publish its response in due course.

Department for International Development

Department for International Development: Brexit

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she plans to publish her Department's preparations for no deal.

Harriett Baldwin: DFID published guidance on 23 August for UK organisations delivering EU humanitarian aid programmes if there is no Brexit deal so that they can make informed plans and preparations for that unlikely scenario. The guidance set out our offer of financial assurance for UK organisations to allow them to continue bidding for funding from the core budget of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) without undertaking unmanageable financial and programmatic risk.

Department for International Development: Staff

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what change there has been in staffing levels in her Department since June 2016.

Harriett Baldwin: Figures on employment levels in all Civil Service organisations are collected each quarter by ONS as part of its Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey (QPSES). Please see below table providing DFID’s staff numbers since June 2016. September figures will be published 2 November.2016Numbers2017Numbers2018NumbersJune2022January2120January2495July2022February2158February2513August2046March2181March2526September2062April2190April2545October2071May2217May2551November2090June2256June2569December2099July2299July2605  August2329August2632  September2351October2389November2443December2459

Department for International Development: Northern Ireland

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many and which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have visited the Irish border in the last 12 months; when those visits took place; and how long they spent at the border in each of those visits.

Harriett Baldwin: a) Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly and are available on GOV.UK.b) Details of business expenses incurred by senior officials include domestic and international travel. This information is also published quarterly and is available on GOV.UK.The information requested for all officials in my Department is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Department for Education

Labour Mobility: EU Countries

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has held discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential merits of bringing forward a European Skills Passport as recommended by the Russell Group of Universities.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Department officials meet regularly with the Home Office to discuss a range of issues regarding migration and the UK higher education (HE) sector. Although my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has not discussed the Russell Group’s European Skills Passport specifically with my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, we know that EU students, staff and providers make a powerful contribution to our world-class HE sector.There are a wide range of options as to how EU migration might work once we have left the EU and we are working hard to assess the benefits and drawbacks of each potential model, all underpinned by robust analysis. On 18 September, the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published its report on the patterns of European Economic Area migration on the UK. This followed its 11 September report on the impact of international students in the UK, which highlighted the important part that international student play in the UK education sector, the economy and our society. The government is grateful to the MAC for undertaking this work. We have always been clear that we want decisions about the future immigration system to be based on evidence. The MAC’s reports will inform those decisions and we will consider their recommendations carefully before setting out further detail on the UK’s future immigration system. We plan to publish a white paper on the future immigration system later this year.To help provide certainty, we have given assurances on student finance for EU students starting courses in 2019/20 academic year or before, and assurances on research funding. We have also reached an agreement with the EU guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and of UK nationals living in the EU. EU citizens living in the UK by 31 December 2020, along with their family members, will be able to stay, with the same access to work, study, benefits and public services that they enjoy now. Close family members living overseas will be able to join them here in future.

Health Education: Schools

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will add stem cell donation to the statutory guidance relating to Health Education for secondary school pupils.

Nick Gibb: The national curriculum includes substantial content which could be used by teachers as an opportunity to inform pupils about organ, stem cell and blood donation. Pupils are taught about the function of the heart, blood vessels and blood as part of Key Stage 2 science, and about stem cells as part of the Key Stage 4 science. The national curriculum is compulsory in state maintained schools, and is often used as a benchmark by academies.In addition, the Government is proposing to introduce compulsory Health Education, alongside Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education, and is currently consulting on draft regulations and draft statutory guidance on the subjects. Under the topic of physical health and fitness, the draft guidance sets out that pupils should know the facts about wider issues such as organ and blood donation.The consultation on the guidance closes on 7 November.

Pupils: Down's Syndrome

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the (a) proportion of children with Down’s Syndrome who attended mainstream schools and (b) retention rates of children with Down’s Syndrome in mainstream schools in each of the last 10 years.

Nadhim Zahawi: We publish the number and proportion of pupils with special educational needs (SEN), including the type of need in the annual ‘Special educational needs in England’ statistical release: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-special-educational-needs-sen.Pupils with SEN are recorded according to their primary type of need. The current types of need were defined in 2015 and do not include a specific breakdown for Down’s Syndrome alone.We do not produce retention rates by primary type of SEN.

Schools: Asbestos

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to assess the presence of asbestos in schools which did not respond to the recent Asbestos Management Assurance Process request.

Nick Gibb: The Department takes the issue of asbestos in schools seriously, and is committed to supporting schools, local authorities and academy trusts to fulfil their duty to manage asbestos safely, in line with the Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012). The Department has taken significant steps in recent years to strengthen schools’ approach to managing asbestos, including publishing refreshed guidance for schools in 2017 and launching the Asbestos Management Assurance Process earlier this year. The response has been positive. The Department is, however, writing to schools and responsible bodies that did not participate in the assurance process to set out their legal duties and ask them to confirm that asbestos management plans are in place, where required. The Department is also working closely with the Health and Safety Executive, which as the regulator, is empowered to take action where they feel that it is necessary.

Schools: Mental Health

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to make ensure that the training for the proposed Designated Senior Leads for Mental Health in schools includes information on the link between speech, language and communication needs and mental health, and how to recognise and respond appropriately to speech, language and communication needs.

Nick Gibb: The role of the Designated Senior Leads for Mental Health in schools will be to take a strategic overview of a school or college’s approach to children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. The Department is currently working towards a procurement of training for Designated Senior Leads, to be provided from the 2019/20 academic year. This will set out the broad areas that the training should cover to enable leads to put in place whole school approaches that incorporate the promotion of good mental wellbeing and resilience amongst pupils and staff. Where a school puts a lead in place, their role should complement existing statutory roles, including the SEN coordinator to ensure that all pupils get the right support to meet their needs. To increase support, the Government is also funding new Mental Health Support Teams working in or near schools. The teams will include a new trained workforce which can provide treatment and support help reduce mental health problems worsening or developing in the first place. These new teams will be tested in ‘trailblazer’ areas from January 2019.

Teachers: Training

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to fund a national programme of roadshows on how to teach language for Reception and Key Stage 1 teachers.

Nick Gibb: The Department has announced a national network of 32 English hubs which will support schools across the country to develop excellent practice in early language and reading. The Department also runs a programme of phonics roadshows. Schools across the country are supported to provide excellent phonics and early language teaching, as well as to spread good practice. The Department is spending up to £100,000 on a series of up to 24 phonics roadshows across the country between now and March 2019. A new set of early learning goals are being piloted as part of our Early Years Foundation Stage Profile reforms. This includes a greater focus on language and vocabulary development, which is vital in ensuring all children leave reception, ready to thrive at school and beyond.

GCSE: Languages

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of pupils in England attained GCSE grades A* to C in a modern languages in each year from 2010 to 2017.

Nick Gibb: The proportion of students achieving A*-C in modern foreign languages since 2010 is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-gcses-key-stage-4.[1] [1] Select the ‘revised’ publication for each year, then open the ‘subject tables’ (‘subject and LA tables’ or ‘Additional table 1’ in earlier years) and then open tab ‘S2’ (‘table 8’ in earlier years).

Ministry of Justice

Family Proceedings: Divorce

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the rise in the number of couples seeking divorce does not lead to delays in the family justice system.

Lucy Frazer: The divorce rates for both men and women remain below the most recent peaks in 2003 and 2004 and the overall trend since 1993 has been for fewer, not more, divorces. In 2017, the number of divorces among opposite-sex couples in England and Wales decreased by 4.9% compared with the previous year.As part of a programme of court reform, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service have introduced an online divorce application service to digitise inefficient paper-based processes and reduce delays in matrimonial proceedings. The remaining stages in the process will also be digitised to provide a fully paperless service to court users.

Judges: Mental Health

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment the Government has made of the rising caseloads of judges on their mental wellbeing.

Lucy Frazer: The welfare of the judiciary is an incredibly important issue. It is imperative that we ensure that the right support is in place to protect their wellbeing. The welfare, training and guidance of the judiciary of England and Wales is the responsibility of the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals. Senior and leadership judges recognise their responsibilities to consider the welfare and wellbeing of their colleagues. Decisions on deployment and resourcing operate alongside an established health and welfare framework that provides a structure and clear processes to be followed in recognising and responding to stress. These measures include a 24/7 helpline which is available for all salaried and fee paid judges, and magistrates’ bench chairs. The helpline is a confidential service providing judges with access to both practical and emotional support direct from trained personnel, including face to face counselling if appropriate. In addition, all judicial office holders have access to a recently launched e-learning package on managing stress and building resilience.

Sexual Offences

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of trends in the level of (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions in (i) rape and (ii) sexual assault cases.

Rory Stewart: The Ministry of Justice publishes regular statistics on defendants proceeded against and offenders convicted for rape and sexual offences. More information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics We keep this under review.

Ministry of Justice: Agency Workers

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the longest amount of time as of May 2018 is that an individual agency worker with at least one shift per month has been working continuously in each area within his Department.

Edward Argar: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Prison Officers: Pay

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent on prison officers salaries for each of the last 10 financial years.

Rory Stewart: Expenditure on Band 3 to 5 Prison Officer salaries by Financial Year in England and Wales(£million) 2011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016/1712017/18 909868800740764778846The figures include Pay; Allowances; Overtime (Payment Plus) and Employer's National Insurance and Employer's Pension ContributionsData prior to 2011/12 is unavailable1 Expenditure for 2016/17 has been partially estimated due to the transition to the Single Operating System (SOP)

Treasury

Taxation: EU Law

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the level of revenue that will accrue to the public purse as a result of the implementation of Council Directive (EU) 2017/1852 on tax dispute resolution mechanisms in the European Union through proposed new section 128A of the Taxation (International and Other Provisions) Act 2010 as set out in the draft Finance Bill.

Mel Stride: The Government has published its current view of this measure here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementing-a-directive-on-tax-dispute-resolution-mechanisms-in-the-eu/legislating-the-directive-on-tax-dispute-resolution-mechanisms-in-the-european-unionWe will be making an estimate of the revenue impact to the public purse as a result of implementation of the directive as the implementing legislation is finalised.

Taxation: EU Law

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the level of revenue that will accrue to the public purse as a result of the implementation of EU Directive 2018/822 as set out in clause 40 of the draft Finance Bill.

Mel Stride: The Government has published its current view of this measure here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-tax-enforcement-disclosable-arrangements/international-tax-enforcement-disclosable-arrangements. We will be making an estimate of the revenue impact to the public purse as a result of implementation of the directive as the implementing legislation is finalised.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of Equitable Life on payment of the outstanding balance of compensation to policyholders.

John Glen: Equitable Life Assurance Society is entirely separate from the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. The Treasury has therefore had no recent meetings with the representatives of Equitable Life on this issue.

Children: Day Care

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many parents were projected to benefit from tax-free childcare by October 2018.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the number of parents who have benefited from tax-free childcare to date is higher than the projection in the March 2014 forecast.

Elizabeth Truss: We estimate that there are 1.5 million families with qualifying childcare costs that are eligible for Tax-free Childcare. I refer the Honourable Member to the answers I gave on 17 September 2018 (173624).

Corporation Tax

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of changes to the level of revenue accrued to the public purse of sections 860 to 862 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009.

Mel Stride: No assessment has been made of changes to the level of revenue accrued to the public purse of sections 860 to 862 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Private Rented Housing

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many private landlords let properties to those eligible for council houses.

Kit Malthouse: The Department does not hold this information. Eligibility for social housing is decided upon by local authorities when an application is made to join the housing waiting list.

Social Rented Housing: Mental Illness

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support people with mental health conditions applying for social housing.

James Brokenshire: Local councils are responsible for drawing up and operating their own allocation scheme within the framework of legislation. By law, certain people must be given 'reasonable preference’ (priority) under an allocation scheme, including people who need to move for medical or welfare reasons. Statutory guidance issued to councils in 2012 includes ‘a mental illness or disorder’ as one of the indicators of the medical and welfare reasonable preference category.The Social Housing Green Paper, published on 14 August 2018, sets out our intention to undertake an evidence collection exercise to help us better understand how the allocations framework is playing out in local areas and if it is striking the right balance of fairness, support and aspiration

Social Rented Housing: Mental Illness

Mr Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate the Government has made of the number of people with mental health problems on social housing waiting lists.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Local authorities are required by law to ensure that ‘reasonable preference’ (priority) for social housing is given to those who need to move on medical and welfare grounds, including grounds relating to a disability. Statutory guidance issued to councils in 2012 includes ‘a mental illness or disorder’ as one of the indicators of the medical and welfare reasonable preference categoryThe annual Local Authority Housing Statistical return collects data on households on the waiting list for each of the reasonable preference criteria: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/local-authority-housing-statistics-data-returns-for-2016-to-2017In 2016/17, there were 108,858 households that met medical and welfare reasonable preference criteria.

Housing Revenue Accounts

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the cost to the public purse is of removing the cap on councils' housing revenue accounts.

James Brokenshire: There is no direct cost of removing the Housing Revenue Account borrowing cap. The cost to the public purse depends on the way in which local authorities use their new freedom to borrow.Further details on removal of the cap will be announced shortly.

Councillors: Somerset

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the (a) dates on which Ministers in his Department had meetings with any elected Somerset County Councillors since 7 May 2015 and (b) the agendas and minutes of the matters discussed for each of those meetings.

Rishi Sunak: Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on www.gov.uk and can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dclg-ministerial-data. The information published includes all meetings up to and including March 2018. Meetings that have not yet been published, but are due to be in the future, include:On 11 July 2018 I met with Councillors David Fothergill and Faye Purbeck from Somerset County Council and Councillor Harvey Siggs from Mendip District Council following their request for a meeting to discuss their thoughts about future organisation of Somerset. There was no minute of the meeting, though I wrote to the Councillors on 26 July 2018 as a follow up to the meeting, and I am placing a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.Following my meeting with the Somerset councillors, I invited all the Somerset MPs to meet with me on 11 September 2018 to discuss their thoughts on future organisation of Somerset. Following that meeting I wrote to all those MPs with some additional information.On 19 July 2018, Jake Berry MP attended a roundtable meeting about high streets and local growth with various councillors and businesses. Councillor David Fothergill from Somerset County Council was in attendance.

Ministry of Defence

AWACS: Procurement

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to Written Statement of 9 October 2018, HCWS974 on Airborne Warning and Control System, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the E- 7’s stationary antenna design.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to Written Statement of 9th October 2018, HCWS974 on Airborne Warning and Control System, how many E-7s his Department plans to purchase.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to Written Statement of 9th October 2018, HCWS974 on Airborne Warning and Control System, what the planned timetable is for the decision on the E-7.

Stuart Andrew: The current procurement approach enables the Ministry of Defence to undertake detailed discussions with the Boeing Company about the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft. This will include the specifics of its design, the likely numbers required and the timeline for delivery. The outcome of these discussions will help inform an Initial Gate Business Case, which will then determine the following stages. A robust timeline is being developed, but no details can be given at this stage.

Type 31 Frigates: Procurement

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-compliant bids have been submitted to the competition to build the Type 31e frigate.

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any bids submitted to the Type 31e frigate competition were priced at less than £250 million for each frigate.

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any compensation is due to bidders due to the pausing of the Type 31e frigate procurement.

Stuart Andrew: I am withholding the information requested about the bids received as its release would prejudice the commercial interests of the bidders and the Ministry of Defence.When the previous Competitive Design Phase was stopped, we exercised our right as set out in the procurement documents and as such compensation is not payable to the bidders.

Type 31 Frigates: Procurement

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the delay caused by restarting the Type 31e frigate procurement process will require an extension to the service life of any Type 23 frigate.

Stuart Andrew: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to the right hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones) on 5 September 2018 in response to question number 167944.

Type 31 Frigates: Procurement

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the decision to (a) pause and (b) restart the procurement process for the Type 31e frigate was made.

Stuart Andrew: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to the right hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones) on 5 September 2018 in response to question numbers 167940,167941, 167942 and 167945 and to the hon. Member for Glasgow South West (Chris Stephens) in response to question number 167315.We launched the new procurement on 13 August 2018 when we issued a Prior Information Notice in Defence Contracts Online.

Armed Forces: Officers

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy are taking to increase opportunities for non-commissioned personnel to become commissioned officers.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy were promoted from Other Ranks to Officer in each of the last five years.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) women and (b) men in the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Air Force and (iii) Royal Navy were promoted from Other Ranks to Officer in each of the last five years.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many BAME personnel in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy were promoted from Other Ranks to Officer in each of the last five years.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Commonwealth citizens in the Armed Forces were promoted from Other Ranks to Officer in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Royal Navy (RN)The Royal Navy continues to encourage promotion from the rating corps through the use of the Upper Yardman (UY) and Senior Upper Yardman (SUY) schemes in order to maintain a sustainable structure and suitable balance of direct entrants and former ratings. In 2017 the SUY route was extended to include additional incentives to encourage more Warrant Officers to apply. This is now known as the SUY(Warrant Officer) scheme. The Royal Navy issues regular information on this subject to all its personnel to encourage consideration of this promotion route. In recent years the Navy has reviewed and extended the validity of the Admiralty Interview Board pass for UY and SUY candidates and adjusted age limitations placed on these routes to expand the candidate pool. In 2018 the RN made clear the process to be followed to apply for a Commission, and the ability for candidates to apply at the same time for multiple routes (UY, SUY or SUY(WO) if eligible) and for multiple branches subject to the requisite skills and qualifications. In addition, the Engineers issued separate guidance to clarify the routes for rating candidates to be extracted as Engineer Officers to maximise opportunities, and minimise training requirements based on their academic qualifications, such as those already degree qualified, or who have attained a Foundation Degree through technical career courses for ratings. The Royal Navy offers additional options to those who have been unsuccessful in their officer application within their chosen branch. As an example, unsuccessful Air Engineering SUY and SUY(WO) candidates are informed that applications for other shortage branches, such as Weapon Engineering, are welcomed and will not adversely affect further applications in their source Branch. Typically, over a third of Royal Navy Officer corps are recruited via the UY/SUY route. The Royal Navy will continue to review extraction routes for ratings to become Officers and the Service remains committed to ensuring there are healthy promotion prospects where a Service need exists. ArmySoldiers with the potential to become Officers are identified by their performance on courses (such as the Command Leadership and Management course) and their annual appraisals. Soldiers are made aware of the opportunity to become Commissioned Officers by their Chain of Command, internal publications and initiatives such as the Potential Officer Development Programme. The number of opportunities available is dependent on the needs of the specific Army cap badges. The Army Reserve has always recruited a significant number of its Officers from within its cohort of other Ranks. Since March 2016 only Professionally Qualified and Specialist Officers join direct into the Officer cohort; all others wishing to join the Army Reserve as Direct Entry Officers are required to enlist as Soldiers first. Royal Air Force (RAF)There are a number of opportunities throughout an Airman/woman’s career that provide options for personnel to explore commissioning, including through the Joint Appraisal Report system, RAF Unit Commissioning Clubs and the Branch Engineering Scheme which is a bespoke commissioning pathway for Other Rank engineers which is designed to offer academic qualification via dedicated study at RAF Cosford. Currently, the RAF has a 30% annual Officer intake from the non-commissioned cohort and this has remained stable for the last few years. The requested information on the numbers of Service personnel promoted from Other Ranks to Officers, including a breakdown by gender, ethnicity and Commonwealth nationality is provided in the attached tables. 



177244 - Armed Forces Final Promotions to Officer
(Excel SpreadSheet, 14.25 KB)

Navy: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) his Department or (b) HM Treasury determines that planned orders for future fleet solid support ships will be subject to international competition.

Stuart Andrew: The procurement of the Fleet Solid Support ships through international competition reflects the fact that they are Naval Auxiliary Support Ships and not warships. We are therefore required by law to procure them through international competition, under our obligations set out in the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 and as outlined in the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

AWACS: Procurement

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to Written Statement of 9th October 2018, HCWS974 on Airborne Warning and Control System, whether his Department held an industry day for potential bidders.

Stuart Andrew: When considering options to invest in and improve the United Kingdom's Airborne Warning and Control System capability, meetings and discussions with potential bidders did take place.

Department for Work and Pensions

Sharing Economy: Social Security Benefits and Welfare Tax Credits

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September to Question 169908 on Sharing Economy: Social Security Benefits and Welfare Tax Credits, whether the government plans to undertake such a study.

Alok Sharma: There are no plans to undertake such a study.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will provide an update on plans to roll-out video recordings of assessments for personal independence payments; and if she will make a statement.

Sarah Newton: As part of our commitment to improve the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment process we are progressing options to video record PIP face to face assessments. Over the summer we have gathered views on video recording from claimants, charities and other representative bodies, and from Health Professionals. These views will inform the design of a live pilot. We are designing a live pilot, due to begin later this year. The pilot will inform any wider full roll out decisions.

Carers: Career Development

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of effect of caring responsibilities on carers (a) retaining, (b) entering and (c) progressing in work.

Sarah Newton: Government is committed to continuing to support carers, who are vital partners in the health and care system, and continues to support carers in a way that supports their own health & wellbeing, employment and other life chances. Many carers struggle to find good jobs that are appropriate for their level of skill and experience after taking time out for caring for children and other relatives. This is a loss to the economy, to employers, and to those individuals. In the 2017 Spring Budget, the Government allocated £5 million to support people to return to paid work in the public and private sector. The returner programmes will support carers who have taken an extended career break. Best practice guidance has also been published to help employers of all sizes and across sectors to increase the quantity and quality of work opportunities they offer returners. The Government has extended the right to request flexible working for all with 26 weeks of continuous employment. A Flexible Working Taskforce has also been established to look at ways to support employers to improve flexible working practices which could help carers to stay in work and return to work. The Government is exploring dedicated employment rights for carers, alongside existing rights, such as the right to request flexible working and the right to time off for family and dependents. Department for Work and Pensions are collaborating closely with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on this area to help support carers in overcoming the practical challenges of balancing work and caring responsibilities.The Government also continues to invest in supporting carers to return to work through Jobcentre Plus which could include adviser support, access to the Flexible Support Fund, and payment for replacement care, childcare, travel and course costs to allow the carer to undertake approved activity or interview with Jobcentre Plus, providers or employers.To support carers to remain in the labour market, the Department for Work and Pension is leading on a project to explore how to improve online information and signposting to wider information and support for carers at the start of their caring journey. This Carers Employment Digital Discovery Project is mapping the information needs of working carers in order to identify opportunities for government and others to improve the available information.

Carers: Unemployment

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) carers and (b) parents that have (a) not entered work (b) reduced their working hours and (c) left the workforce as a result of caring responsibilities.

Sarah Newton: The requested information is not available. DWP continues to invest in supporting carers to return to work through Jobcentre Plus which could include adviser support, access to the Flexible Support Fund, and payment for replacement care, childcare, travel and course costs to allow the carer to undertake approved activity or interview with Jobcentre Plus, providers or employers. (Sep 17).

Employment and Support Allowance: Greater London

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people in (a) Camden (b) Brent (c) the constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn and (d) London who receive contribution-related employment and support allowance.

Sarah Newton: The information on the number of people who receive contribution-related employment and support allowance is published and can be found at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml Guidance for users is available at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html

Employment: Disability

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support people to (a) disclose a disability  and (b) ask for reasonable adjustments in the workplace.

Sarah Newton: The Equality Act 2010 legally protects disabled people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society and requires employers to make reasonable adjustments to make sure workers with disabilities, or physical or mental health conditions aren’t substantially disadvantaged when doing their jobs. Disability Confident emphasises to employers the importance of implementing reasonable adjustments and signposts them to further sources of information and guidance. By providing guidance, best practice advice and access to case studies, DC helps to support managers and HR professionals to build a positive culture. This means that managers and disabled staff can have productive conversations in the workplace, creating the right environment for people to share their disability at work. Access to Work is a demand-led scheme that provides support for disabled workers over and above the level of reasonable adjustments, up to a maximum of £57,200 per year per person. Access to Work provision was approved for 25,020 individuals in 2016/17 – an 8% increase on 2015/16, at a cost of £104m. In addition, we are working with Council for Work and Health to develop Reasonable Adjustments Clinical Guidance in relation to 5 conditions which commonly lead to absence from work. We expect the guidance to be published in 2019. Finally, we are working with partners including employers, to establish a voluntary reporting framework on disability and mental health for large employers. In the supporting guidance we will provide advice on disclosure issues.

Employment and Support Allowance

Emma Dent Coad: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2018 to Question 155402, if she will publish the written communication from the British Medical Association and Royal College of General Practitioners confirming that those organisations agreed to the revised wording of the ESA65B letters sent to claimants’ GPs when they fail the work capability assessment.

Sarah Newton: In accordance with the Answer of 3 July 2018 to Question 155402, the information is not available as there is no written minute of the meeting between officials from this Department and representatives from the British Medical Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners on the revised wording of the ESA65B letter.

National Insurance Credits

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of employment support allowance are not receiving the full amount of national insurance credits for which they are eligible.

Sarah Newton: People in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance are awarded a Class 1 National Insurance credit for each complete benefit week that the benefit is in payment. A benefit week runs from Sunday to Saturday.

Universal Credit

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the draft Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of options for an automatic process for migrating claimants from ESA to Universal Credit.

Alok Sharma: Our migration processes will be co-designed with stakeholders, to ensure that we have listened and understood claimants’ experiences. We will be introducing processes that work well for everyone.

Universal Credit

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the draft Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018, what process her Department undertook to decide on the period of one month as the default amount of time anticipated between a migration notice and a deadline day for the purposes of managed migration to Universal Credit.

Alok Sharma: Our priority during the managed migration process is to ensure a smooth transition with continuous support. That is why we have designed the draft regulations with the flexibility and fail-safes necessary to protect vulnerable claimants. The draft regulations suggest a minimum one month period between the migration notice and deadline day. However, there is flexibility for a longer period to be given and to extend any given deadline, if it is identified that certain claimants require longer timescales to make a claim. Similarly, a claimant may request an extension for completing their Universal Credit claim, as long as they have a good reason for doing so. There is no limit on the number of times that a claimant may ask to extend the deadline for making the UC claim providing they have a good reason for doing so.

Universal Credit

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department will develop new guidance for officials in her Department on the application of good reason to requests to extend the deadline day for the purposes of managed migration.

Alok Sharma: As with other legislative changes, the Department will be publishing guidance for staff on the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018. This guidance will include advice on the application of the good reason provision.

Universal Credit

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the funding allocated to Citizens Advice for universal support services will include support for a claim for universal credit after that claim has been made.

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of access to universal support in areas without Citizens Advice services after April 2019.

Alok Sharma: As part of our new partnership announced earlier this month, Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland will help claimants with making and managing their claims, and will help to identify whether any other support is needed. This partnership will ensure our claimants get the best possible support to claim Universal Credit. Until March 2019, Citizens Advice will be developing their support alongside the support currently offered by local authorities. The Department will work with Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland between now and April to ensure that Universal Support is accessible across the country, and is ready to deliver a consistent and reliable service from 1 April 2019.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints on pensions have been received from women born in the 1950s.

Guy Opperman: As of the 10 October 2018, the Independent Case Examiner’s Office had received 4,085 complaints from women born in the 1950s concerning changes to State Pension age.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints from women born in the 1950s have had a final decision communicated to such women.

Guy Opperman: As of the 10 October 2018, 172 investigations have been concluded and decisions then communicated by the Independent Case Examiner, into complaints from women born in the 1950s concerning change to State Pension age.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints on pensions from women born in the 1950s are waiting to be processed to a complaint agreement.

Guy Opperman: As of 10th October 2018, there were 780 complaints received by the Independent Case Examiner’s Office from women born in the 1950s concerning change to State Pension age, which are awaiting checks to establish whether they can be accepted for examination.

Universal Credit: Greenock

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the last time was that (a) Ministers and (b) Officials from her Department visited Greenock Jobcentre to discuss the roll-out of Universal Credit.

Alok Sharma: There have been no Ministerial visits to Greenock Jobcentre. However a number of senior officials from the Department have visited the office since it went live with Universal Credit on 23 November 2016. The last time an official from the Department visited Greenock Jobcentre was on 14 June 2018.

Personal Independence Payment

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that staff conducting medical assessments of personal independence payment applicants are qualified to assess people with mental health issues.

Sarah Newton: Health Professionals undertaking assessments receive training on how to identify the impact of mental health conditions on claimants. This is followed by on-going professional training and support which continues for the duration of their employment in the role. Providers of assessments periodically engage with organisations / experts to help enhance their training materials. In addition, Mental Health Champions support Health Professionals by providing additional expertise about mental health, cognitive, developmental and learning disabilities and can be referred to at any time during the assessment process.

Personal Independence Payment

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the removal or reduction of personal independence payment on claimants’ mental health.

Sarah Newton: Holding answer received on 15 October 2018



Under Personal Independence Payment (PIP) a higher proportion of people with a mental health condition receive the top rates than under Disability Living Allowance (DLA): 65 per cent get the enhanced Daily Living rate compared to 22 per cent under DLA; and 33 per cent get the enhanced mobility award compared to 10 per cent under DLA. Regular reviews of PIP, which can be paid at one of eight rates, are a key feature of the benefit and ensure that not only do awards remain correct where needs may change, including where needs become greater, but that we also maintain contact with the claimant.

Social Security Benefits: Epilepsy

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will bring forward in assessments for (a) employment and support allowance and (b) universal credit a limited capability for work-related activity descriptor for people suffering multiple epileptic seizures on a weekly basis.

Sarah Newton: Holding answer received on 16 October 2018



Entitlement to the limited capability for work-related activity element of Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit is not based on somebody’s health condition but on the impact it has on their capability to work. An evidence based review (EBR) published in December 2013 indicated that overall, the WCA is a valid assessment relative to experts’ opinions about people’s fitness for work”

Pensions

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the protection of savers automatically enrolled into contract-based pension schemes from climate change risks material to their investments.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions works closely with the Financial Conduct Authority to ensure that pension savers benefit from comparable protection whether they are members of an occupational pension scheme or a workplace personal pension scheme. This includes considering together how best to ensure that schemes take appropriate account of climate change risks and other financial risks material to their investments. Last month government laid regulations which, from October 2019, will require trustees of occupational pension schemes to set out how they take account of climate change and other risks that are material to their investments. The Financial Conduct Authority will consult in the first quarter of 2019 on a rule change to require the Independent Governance Committees of workplace personal pension schemes to report on their firm’s policy on evaluating financially material considerations, including climate change.

Bereavement Support Payment: Cohabitation

Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will extend bereavement support payment to people who were cohabiting but were not married or in a civil partnership when one partner dies.

Justin Tomlinson: The Supreme Court has ruled it incompatible with ECHR principles to provide that certain cohabitees with children are not entitled to Widowed Parent’s Allowance. The ruling applies to Widowed Parent’s Allowance only. It does not apply to Bereavement Support Payment. However, we are carefully considering the Court’s judgment and how the Department should proceed in the light of this. When we have looked at all the options, I will come before the House to update Parliament further on this matter.

Universal Credit

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2018 to Question 171398 on Universal Credit, whether the data relating to additional costs to local authorities in excess of those already covered by new burdens and universal support funding has been published; and if she will place a copy of the data which her Department holds in Library.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Personal Independence Payment: Hearing Impairment

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with a primary disability of deafness or hearing impairment aged between 16 to 25 applied for personal independence payment in the last 12 months.

Sarah Newton: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Personal Independence Payment: Hearing Impairment

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications her Department has received from deaf people aged 16 to 25 for personal independence payments in the last 12 months; and (a) what the outcome of each claim was and (b) how many of those applicants have requested a mandatory reconsideration or appealed to the social security tribunal.

Sarah Newton: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to allow for a universal credit work capability assessment appointment to be expedited in cases in which her Department has delayed issuing the UC50 form to a claimant.

Alok Sharma: The Capability for Work questionnaire UC50 and covering letter is issued to the claimant by first class mail the day after they are referred for a Work Capability Assessment. They have a period of four weeks in which to return the completed questionnaire, and are issued a further reminder letter if they have not replied within three weeks. There have been no recorded issues with delays in sending these forms out, but we would welcome any information of issues, to allow us to continue to refine and improve our processes.

Independent Assessment Services: Training

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the training of Independent Assessment Services' health professionals on Asperger’s and autism spectrum disorder, (a) who provides the training, (b) how many and what proportion of those health professionals have received that training; (c) how long the the training period is; (d) what the training consist of and (e) whether that training is compulsory for all health professionals.

Sarah Newton: All Health Professionals employed by Independent Assessment Services receive mandatory training on a wide range of conditions including autism as part of their initial new entrant training, delivered by the provider. This includes detailed e-learning and classroom based training modules covering all aspects of autism including Asperger’s Syndrome. In addition, simulated assessments enable Health Professionals to understand how these conditions impact on a person’s ability to undertake the activities in the PIP assessment. This is followed by on-going professional training and support which continues for the duration of their employment in the role.

Social Security Benefits: Autism

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with Asperger's and autism spectrum disorder organisations on (a) assessments for and (b) decisions on (i) personal independence payments and (ii) employment and support allowance claims.

Sarah Newton: I have regular discussions with a range of stakeholders, including those representing individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autistic Spectrum Disorders to discuss benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). For example, in regards to ESA, the Department has engaged with the National Autistic Society (NAS) on numerous occasions during the development of the Severe Conditions reassessment criteria. NAS are also a member of the Centre for Health and Disability Assessment’s (CHDA) Customer Relations Group and quality assures relevant training and guidance for CHDA’s Healthcare Professionals who undertake Work Capability Assessments. With regards to PIP, we regularly engage with stakeholders and one of the main avenues is through the PIP Forum events. Autism Network Scotland were invited to the most recent PIP Forum event in Scotland and NAS have been invited to attend the forthcoming PIP Forum event in England.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Independent Assessment Service (IAS) reports that have been audited and amended, whether it is her Department's policy to provide the (a) original and (b) amended IAS reports to claimants who request a copy of the IAS report on their assessment.

Sarah Newton: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Farmers: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that farmers in Northern Ireland are able to continue to sell their livestock to the Republic of Ireland after the UK has left the EU; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: As part of the Future Economic Partnership negotiations the UK is proposing a UK-EU free trade area for goods. This would avoid friction at the border, protect jobs and livelihoods, and ensure that the UK and the EU meet their commitments to Northern Ireland and Ireland through the overall future relationship.

Tree Felling: Animal Welfare

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the safety of wildlife when trees are being felled.

David Rutley: The Forestry Commission is responsible for the regulation of tree felling in England and woodland managers must apply for a felling license from the Commission to fell trees, unless an exemption applies. For example, a tree which poses a danger life or property can be felled without a license. Any tree felling must comply with regulations and legislation protecting wildlife species and habitats, including the European protected species (EPS) listed in the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. In England, all wild birds, their eggs and their nests are protected, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it an offence to kill, injure or take wild birds or to take or damage their eggs and nests. There are provisions within the 1981 Act that permit derogation from these protections for specific reasons for example for the purposes of preserving public health or public or air safety. The Forestry Commission works with Natural England, the statutory body for protected species, to provide good practice guidance on how to minimise impacts on protected wildlife and circumstances where a licence may be required. When submitting an application, landowners are required to evidence how they propose to manage the impact of felling on wildlife, including sites of special scientific interest (SSSI). It is an offence to carry out an activity that has an impact on a protected species without a wildlife management license.

Fisheries: Regulation

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to introduce legislative proposals for statutory fisheries regulation to ensure a UK competitive advantage over the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice: The Fisheries Bill will provide the framework for the UK to take control of our fisheries and to deliver much needed reforms that better suit our fishing industries. The Withdrawal Act ensures that that we have fully workable regimes in place from Day 1 and the Fisheries Bill will provide England with the necessary tools to deliver much needed reforms once we leave the EU.

Food: Labelling

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department expects to publish the findings of the review of food safety and labelling laws.

David Rutley: We are considering at pace all the evidence, including new cases as they arise, to help inform the action needed to strengthen rules on allergen labelling. Longer term, we have an opportunity to review all of food labelling when the UK has left the EU so that consumers have the information they need to have full confidence in the food they buy, and we are committed to doing that.

Food: Labelling

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether charities and health organisations will be consulted during the review of food safety and labelling laws.

David Rutley: The relevant stakeholders will be consulted during the review of the allergen labelling legislative framework.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2018 to Question 173504 on Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control, whether Natural England found any landholdings to be non-compliant with licence conditions and the Best Practice Guide.

George Eustice: Natural England continues to conduct monitoring of controlled shooting and cage-trapping contractors in the current licensing period and has not identified any issues regarding compliance with licence conditions and the Best Practice Guides. A summary of compliance monitoring will be published by Natural England after the end of operations for the year, as has been done in previous years.

Common Land: Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) the Forestry Commission England, (b) Natural England and (c) the Rural Payments Agency on the mapping of the (i) number, (ii) location and (iii) expected removal date of temporary fences erected in Cumbria.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Department does not collect data on the number, location and planned removal date of temporary fences erected on common land in Cumbria; neither does it keep a map of temporary fences on commons. No discussions have taken place between the Department and its agencies on the mapping of temporary fencing erected in Cumbria. As part of its work with the Lake District National Park Partnership, Natural England has worked with partners to develop a searchable website showing temporary consented fencing on common land in the Lake District, which will be publicly available through the Lake District National Park Authority. Natural England also carries out a programme of aftercare visits on agri-environment agreements to provide agreement holders with advice on how to manage their schemes to achieve the outcomes.

Avian Influenza

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the UK has put forward for continuing co-operation with the EU on monitoring avian influenza in wild birds and domestic poultry.

George Eustice: The UK is committed to an ongoing programme of surveillance and monitoring for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds, and will continue to publish the findings on GOV.UK and share information with European and international organisations.

Home Office

Ilois: British Nationality

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to waive the fees required to apply for British citizenship in respect of third-generation Chagos Islanders currently resident in the UK.

Caroline Nokes: In my response to the Home Affairs Committee’s report of 3 July, on the Windrush generation, I committed to consider the issues encountered by the descendants of those removed from the British Indian Ocean Territory and this remains my position.

Immigrants: EU Nationals

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is the Government's policy that the eligibility criteria for the EU Settled Status Scheme as outlined in the EU Settlement Scheme Statement of Intent, published on 21 June 2018, will change in the event that no agreement is reached with the EU on the UK leaving the EU.

Caroline Nokes: The Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have confirmed that in the event of there being no agreement with the EU on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, all EU citizens and their family members resident in the UK by 29 March 2019 will be able to stay, their rights will be protected and they will be able to live their lives broadly as they do now. Further information will be published in due course.

Visas: Married People

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of the number of spousal visa applications which have been completed within service standard times in (a) 2016, (b) 2017 and (c) in 2018 to date.

Caroline Nokes: Performance against service standards is reported quarterly, figures for spousal visa applications are included within the overall figures published which indicate the majority of straightforward applications are processed within service standards.The available information on processing against service standards is published in the Department’s Migration transparency data at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-operations-transparency-data-august-2018,

Visas: Married People

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of the number of spousal visas that were not completed within the service standard time which have gone on to be completed within (a) six months and (b) 12 months in (i) 2016, (ii) 2017 and (iii) 2018 to date.

Caroline Nokes: Performance against service standards is reported quarterly, figures for spousal visa applications are included within the overall figures published which indicate the majority of straightforward applications are processed within service standards.The available information on processing against service standards is published in the Department’s Migration transparency data at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-operations-transparency-data-august-2018,

Immigrants: EU Nationals

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department plans to provide (a) legal advice and (b) assistance to anyone whose application for settled status is refused or rejected.

Caroline Nokes: The EU Settlement Scheme application process is being built around a presumption to grant rather than refuse, and we expect any issues with applicants to be resolved before a decision is made. Where an application is refused applicants will be able to contact the EU Settlement Resolution Centre to discuss the outcome of their application. There will also be an administrative review mechanism to quickly resolve any caseworking errors.The Ministry of Justice are conducting an evidence-based assessment of the impact of the legal aid changes and are committed to publishing their findings by the end of the year.

Immigrants: Personal Records

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long his Department keeps paper immigration records before they are destroyed.

Caroline Nokes: Information about retention periods for immigration records has been published and is available in the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship privacy information notice on GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-information-use-in-borders-immigration-and-citizenship/borders-immigration-and-citizenship-privacy-information-notice#how-long-we-keep-your-personal-information-for

Immigrants: EU Nationals

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for people who have secured settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme but who are subsequently absent from the UK for a period of less than five years, what constitutes a return to the UK in order for their leave not to lapse and the clock on absence to be reset.

Caroline Nokes: In line with the draft Withdrawal Agreement, where a person granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme has returned here after being absent from the UK for a period of no more than five consecutive years, their settled status will not have lapsed. There is no minimum period for which they must then remain in the UK for the clock on any further absence to be reset.

Visas: Religious Persons

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on granting visas to religious or community leaders who publicly advocate female genital mutilation or cutting.

Caroline Nokes: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a crime and constitutes child abuse. The Government is clear that we will not tolerate the practice, which can cause extreme and lifelong suffering to women and girls.All applications for entry clearance and those seeking entry to the UK are considered on their merits and against the Immigration Rules. If an immigration decision maker is aware that an applicant advocates FGM then they should normally refuse the application.

Wales Office

Wales Office: Brexit

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he plans to publish his Department's preparations for no deal.

Alun Cairns: We firmly believe it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal. That remains the goal on both sides and we are confident that this will be achieved. But it is the job of a responsible Government to prepare for all scenarios, so we have already carried out very significant ‘no deal’ preparations for the unlikely event that we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal.We have already published over 100 technical notices so that businesses and citizens have time to prepare in the event of a 'no deal' scenario. These are available on gov.uk in a centralised location that is easy for people to access and use.

Wales Office: Northern Ireland

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many and which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have visited the Irish border in the last 12 months; when those visits took place; and how long they spent at the border in each of those visits.

Alun Cairns: Neither myself, nor Ministers or officials in my Department have travelled between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly and are available on GOV.UK.Details of business expenses incurred by senior officials include domestic and international travel. This information is also published quarterly and is available on GOV.UK.

Scotland Office

Devolution: Scotland

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has held with the Scottish Government on the devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament upon the UK leaving the EU.

David Mundell: The EU Withdrawal Act confirmed that where EU law intersects with devolved competence, those powers will flow directly to the devolved administrations on exit day. We are also continuing to make progress to establish common frameworks which the Joint Committee on EU (Negotiations) discussed last week. The Committee has met thirteen times, most recently on Thursday 11 October. At this last meeting the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations discussed progress on Common Frameworks. Good progress has been made through the process of outlining frameworks in the twenty four priority policy areas where legislative frameworks have been considered and this is testament to constructive working relationship between all UK administrations on this matter.

Scotland Office: Brexit

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he plans to publish his Department's preparations for no deal.

David Mundell: We firmly believe it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal. That remains the goal on both sides and we are confident that this will be achieved. But it is the job of a responsible Government to prepare for all scenarios, so we have already carried out very significant ‘no deal’ preparations for the unlikely event that we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal. We have already published over 100 technical notices so that businesses and citizens have time to prepare in the event of a 'no deal' scenario. These are available on gov.uk in a centralised location that is easy for people to access and use.

Scotland Office: Staff

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what change there has been in staffing levels in his Department since June 2016.

David Mundell: Staffing levels at the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland have increased by seven staff members between June 2016 and June 2018. DateHeadcountJune 201669June 201876Difference+7

Economic Situation: Scotland

Patricia Gibson: What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the Scottish economy.

Martin Whitfield: What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the Scottish economy.

Alison Thewliss: What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the Scottish economy.

David Mundell: I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on all important issues concerning Scotland, its economic performance and how the UK Government supports its prosperity.These discussions also include the potential implications and opportunities of the UK leaving the EU.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Robert Halfon: What recent assessment he has made of the effect of the freeze on fuel duty on low income families in Scotland.

Mel Stride: The Government recognises that transport is a major cost for households and businesses in Scotland.That is why the Prime Minister recently announced that fuel duty will be frozen in 2019/20, a ninth successive freeze. This will benefit all drivers in Scotland and across the UK.As a result of the last eight years of freezes, the average car driver has saved a cumulative £850 compared to pre-2010 escalator plans.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Brexit

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Written Statement of 13 March 2018 on Spring Statement, HCWS540, how much of that funding he has allocated to (a) programmes, (b) administration and (c) staffing in his Department.

Oliver Dowden: HM Treasury has allocated over £2 billion of additional funding to departments and the Devolved Administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This breaks down as: - £412m of additional funding over the spending review period for the Department for Exiting the European Union, Department for International Trade and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office at Autumn Statement 2016. - £286m of additional funding for 17/18 (a full breakdown of which can be found in Supplementary Estimates 17/18). https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/679738/PU2137_Supplementary_estimates_web.pdf. - Over £1.5bn of additional funding for 18/19. A full breakdown of which can be found in the Chief Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, laid on the 13th March.https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/)  The Cabinet Office was allocated £49.4m for costs arising as the UK leave the EU in the Spring Statement 2018. The final breakdown between programme and administration spend will be confirmed in the Supplementary Estimates.

Food: Allergies

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) adults and (b) children have died as a result of a food allergy in each of the last five years.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response 
(PDF Document, 81.46 KB)

EEA Nationals: North West

Damien Moore: To ask the Minister for theCabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of EEA nationals living in the (a) North West of England and (b) Southport constituency.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response 
(PDF Document, 68.67 KB)

Cancer and Heart Diseases

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the health outcomes in the UK for recovery from (a) cancer and (b) heart attacks in comparison to other EU countries.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response 
(PDF Document, 138.26 KB)

Cabinet Office: Brexit

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to publish his Department's preparations for no deal.

Mr David Lidington: We firmly believe it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal. That remains the goal on both sides and we are confident that this will be achieved. But it is the job of a responsible Government to prepare for all scenarios, so we have already carried out very significant ‘no deal’ preparations for the unlikely event that we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal. The Government has already published over 100 technical notices so that businesses and citizens have time to prepare in the event of a 'no deal' scenario. These are available on gov.uk in a centralised location that is easy for people to access and use.

EU Nationals

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many EU nationals are resident in the UK; and how many have been resident in the UK for more than (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response 
(PDF Document, 133.59 KB)

Department for International Trade

Department for International Trade: Staff

Gareth Snell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff (a) are employed directly by (b) are seconded to and (c) work under contract to his Department.

George Hollingbery: The number of staff employed in the Department for International Trade (DIT) and UK Export Finance (UKEF) as at 31 August 2018 is shown in the table below. Core DITUKEF Directly employed by DIT2852313 Seconded to DIT21- Working under contract to DIT30920  The staff who are directly employed include only those who are on DIT payroll (for domestic staff) or on FCO payroll and then recharged to DIT (for overseas staff).Those who are seconded are those who are working in DIT and subject to a secondment agreement.Staff working under contract include contractors and agency staff who have been procured from Government frameworks.These totals do not include employees working in DIT who are not paid directly through the DIT payroll.All data above includes those working in the UK and overseas.

Arms Trade: Exports

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, for what reason the Government does not audit end user certificates used for the exporting of controlled goods.

Graham Stuart: Auditing end-user certificates would necessitate the introduction of post-licensing end-use checks in foreign jurisdictions. Permission from each country would be required on each occasion, negating any possibility of unannounced visits. We do not believe that auditing end-user certificates through an end-use monitoring programme would result in proportionally better, more informed export licensing decisions. Our current approach is to focus on a rigorous risk assessment before a licence is issued to consider whether goods might be used in a way which is inconsistent with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, while retaining powers to revoke extant licences if circumstances dictate. This assessment looks at the information picture in the round, taking into account information from a range of information sources, including overseas diplomatic Posts. An end-user undertaking is only one part of the application assessment process and does not guarantee that a licence would be granted.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Youth Organisations

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to (a) fund and (b) ensure the viability of youth organisations.

Tracey Crouch: Local authorities are responsible for allocating public funding to youth services in their area. Government is investing in youth organisations in a number of ways including:Investing £40 million (in partnership with Big Lottery Fund) in the Youth Investment Fund which supports over 90 youth organisations around the country to create, expand and strengthen the sustainability of open access youth provision, and is expected to benefit over 300,000 young people. Part of that programme ensures the grantees have dedicated support to enhance their viability beyond the period of the grant;Funding National Citizen Service (over £1bn has been allocated to NCS between 15/16 and 19/20) which is delivered via a supply chain network of over 100 organisations, including many youth organisations;Investing £40m (in partnership with Big Lottery Fund) in the #iwill fund which supports voluntary and community organisations that work with young people;Releasing £1.2m of funding using money from dormant accounts to boost the capacity of vital grass-roots youth organisations working with young people, who are not in education, employment or training, in three areas of the country; andThe £2m Building Connections Fund, in partnership with the Co-op Foundation, which is available to youth organisations helping to support young people to avoid long-term loneliness.

5G: Railways

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what rail lines are being considered for the 5G trials that will support improvements to rail passenger connectivity.

Margot James: At Autumn Budget 2017, the Government allocated £35 million to projects that will support improvement to rail passenger connectivity, including the Trans-Pennine Initiative (TPI). This is a joint project between the 5G Testbeds and Trials and Local Full Fibre Networks Programmes. The projects involved are to : upgrade the Network Rail test track in Melton Mowbray, andto install trackside infrastructure along part of the Trans Pennine route, this will include the rollout of fibre between Manchester and York.

5G: Railways

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to announce the specification for the 5G trials that will support improvements to rail passenger connectivity.

Margot James: At Autumn Budget 2017, the Government allocated £35 million to projects that will support improvement to rail passenger connectivity, including the Network Rail test track in Melton Mowbray, and the Trans-Pennine Initiative (TPI). In August 2018, the Government released a Call for Information to parties interested in taking part in these projects. This Call included questions on a range of options for connectivity delivery, including 5G. The responses to these are informing our approach to next steps. A technical specification for the project is expected in due course.

Video Games: Young People

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on tackling video game addiction among young people; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: It is important that young people enjoy video games as part of an active and balanced lifestyle that includes time for exercise and socialising in the real world. Through our Internet Safety Strategy we are working closely with the games industry, agencies such as the Video Standards Council and others to improve online safety in games, including promoting healthy and responsible gaming. More broadly, to better understand the relationship between social media and the mental health of children and young people up to 25 years old, the Chief Medical Officer will be leading a systematic review to examine all relevant international research in the area.

Public Libraries: Merseyside

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2018 to Question 173522 on Libraries: Merseyside, for what reason this information is not centrally held.

Michael Ellis: While the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport does not hold the data requested, annual statistics on public libraries are collected by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) from returns provided by local authorities. These include details of the net number of libraries open at 31 March of each year. Details of permanent library closures and library openings have been collected for each year since 2014/15 in these statistics. The Libraries Taskforce also published on 11 January 2018 an extended basic dataset verified by all local authorities in England. This included detail indicating the number of static statutory public libraries in England as at 1 April 2010 and any changes to their status (and new library openings) up to 1 July 2016.

International Broadcasting

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to seek to retain the (a) 671 non-domestic TV channels and (b) on-demand services based in the UK in the event that there is no exit deal between the UK and the EU.

Margot James: As set out in the Brexit White Paper, we cannot be part of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) if we are not part of the EU. As a result, the Country of Origin principle, which allows audiovisual services to obtain a broadcasting licence in one Member State for all their channels and services across the EU, will no longer apply. We have shared relevant information for businesses in the Technical Notice for Broadcasting and video-on-demand if there's no Brexit deal which is available here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/broadcasting-and-video-on-demand-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/broadcasting-and-video-on-demand-if-theres-no-brexit-deal], published in September 2018. The details of the future relationship between the EU and the UK on broadcasting depends on the exit negotiations, and we are committed to seek the best possible arrangement for broadcasting that will work for UK businesses and audiences.

Women and Equalities

Civil Partnerships: Heterosexuality

Layla Moran: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to introduce legislative proposals to allow opposite-sex couples to enter into a civil partnership.

Victoria Atkins: On 2 October the Prime Minister announced that we would extend the availability of civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples.This important step for equality will give families more certainty and security, and we intend to introduce legislation as soon as possible.

Gender Recognition

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, which organisations his Department consulted during the drafting of the consultation on reform of the Gender Recognition Act.

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, for what reason hard-copy responses to the consultation on reform of the Gender Recognition Act have to be sent to an address at the Department for Education and online responses to the Government Equalities Office.

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what collaborative work took place between Gendered Intelligence and the Government Equalities Office on the consultation on the reform of the Gender Recognition Act.

Victoria Atkins: As part of our pre-consultation engagement in the run up to publishing the Gender Recognition Act Consultation, the Government Equalities Office met over 70 organisations and stakeholders. These included LGBT organisations, women’s groups, faith organisations, refuges and domestic violence campaign groups, local government, campaign organisations such as Woman’s Place UK, unions, transgender charities, government departments and other European governments. Gendered Intelligence were one of these groups. The Government Equalities Office is physically based in the Department for Education building in Westminster. Hard copy responses to the consultation must therefore be addressed to the Government Equalities Office in the Department for Education.

Gender Recognition

Tim Loughton: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she will take to assess the safeguarding implications of reforming the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

Victoria Atkins: We are carefully considering safeguarding issues related to reforming the Gender Recognition Act 2004. We have been very clear that we are not going to be changing the existing safeguards in the Equality Act. Safeguarding is always a priority and, in line with the usual obligations on Government, any proposed new gender recognition system will be rigorously assessed in terms of its potential effect on other groups in society, as well as its implications for safeguarding processes in specific contexts, such as prisons. As part of the Gender Recognition Act consultation, we are keen to hear from respondents on these points.Any new system that is proposed in the Government’s response to the Gender Recognition Act consultation will be subject to a full impact assessment.